Closed Since 18 May: What's Actually True About SEND Reform
Notas del episodio
"SEND reform: putting children and young people first" — the consultation that proposes a new four-tier support model and billions in funding — closed on 18 May 2026. Months on, there's still no government response. So what's actually true right now, for a parent at the school gate asking if EHCPs are being scrapped? We separate the proposed (four tiers, big funding figures, nothing law yet) from the one date that actually matters: no existing EHCP changes before September 2030.
Printable one-pager for this episode, free: https://theeducationcommute.co.uk/#newsletter-staff
Two free newsletters, one for staff and one for parents and carers, same evidence written for the person reading it.
Sources
- House of Commons Library, CBP-10550 — The Schools White Paper 2026: SEND Reform: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10550/
- gov.uk — SEND reform: putting children and young people first (consultation): https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first
- gov.uk — HTML version of the consultation document: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first-html-version
Actions for consideration
- Check that everyone in your setting who might field the "are EHCPs being scrapped" question gives the same answer.
- Know the two facts that answer it: consultation closed 18 May 2026, no government response yet; no existing EHCP changes before September 2030.
- Don't repeat the four-tier model or any funding figure as settled policy — it's proposed, not law.
- Check gov.uk's consultation page yourself before repeating "still no response" as current — it can change at any time.
- If your setting has already briefed parents or governors on this, make sure the wording matches what's actually confirmed, not what's proposed.
Disclosure: Both voices on this show are synthesised (NotebookLM, Google); the research, reading and editorial judgement are done by a serving practitioner.
Strand: Leaders