The government has released plans to reform the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England, introducing several new terms and frameworks.
While education, health and care plans (EHCPs) are already familiar to many, the reforms also introduce individual support plans (ISPs). Additionally, there will be "targeted," "targeted plus," and "specialist" support layers, alongside new national inclusion standards.
Understanding these terms is essential for those navigating the updated system, which the education secretary states will provide support to children with SEND
"when they need it, as routine and without a fight."
1. EHCPs are changing
The primary change is that by 2035, only children with the most complex needs will qualify for EHCPs. These are legal documents that identify a pupil's needs and specify the support they should receive, with local authorities responsible for ensuring compliance.
Historically, the proportion of pupils with EHCPs was stable at 2.8% until 2015, but it has since nearly doubled to 5.3%. The government is concerned that without reform, demand will continue to rise beyond sustainable levels.
Children currently holding an EHCP, or assessed as needing one, will retain them until completing their current education phase, such as primary or secondary school. Their needs will then be reassessed starting autumn 2029, with current Year 2 pupils being the first to undergo reassessment.
Parents will continue to have the right to apply for EHCPs, which local authorities will deliver, and to challenge decisions regarding their child's support at tribunal.
The percentage of children with EHCPs is expected to increase in the short term during the reform rollout, but the government aims for a slower growth rate and anticipates returning to current levels by 2035.
2. The introduction of ISPs
The government's new approach includes ISPs for pupils with SEND, including those without EHCPs. ISP stands for "individual support plans."
ISPs will outline a child's needs, the support they should receive, and the intended outcomes. They are described as "flexible" plans detailing day-to-day needs, contrasting with EHCPs which provide a legal entitlement framework.
Children with EHCPs will also have ISPs specifying how the EHCP's provisions will be implemented.
All children will have a legal right to an ISP, with nurseries, schools, or colleges responsible for consulting parents and drafting these plans. ISPs will be reviewed at least annually.
If parents disagree with an ISP's content, they must first use the school's complaints process before escalating concerns to the local authority or government.
3. New ways to determine support levels
EHCPs and ISPs will operate alongside three new support layers for children with SEND, complementing a "universal offer" available to all children.
The first layer is "targeted" support, which may include small group assistance and reasonable adjustments such as providing coloured paper or laptops for children with dyslexia.
The second layer, "targeted plus," grants access to specialists like speech and language therapists and educational psychologists, as well as dedicated SEND spaces within schools called "inclusion bases."
The third layer is "specialist support" for children with the most complex needs. Children receiving specialist support will be assigned a "specialist provision package," developed by education, health, and care experts, detailing their specific requirements.
All three support layers involve the child having an ISP. However, only children with specialist provision packages under the specialist support layer are intended to qualify for new EHCPs. The Department for Education states EHCPs will be "based on" these packages, granting children a legal right to the support outlined.
The government aims to allow children to move between these three support layers as their needs evolve.
By 2028, "national inclusion standards" will be established to define the support children and families should expect from schools.
