We respond to the government’s white paper on education reform
Our CEO says that, while there are reasons to be optimistic, support must be ‘strengthened and not dismantled’.
The government announced a series of measures on Monday (23 February 2026) to reform the education system and the support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive through a new white paper.
Over 1.7 million (about one in five) pupils in England's schools receive support for special educational needs, which can include mental health problems. Of these, 639,000 have education, health and care plans (EHCPs). However, the wait for support can be lengthy and fewer than half of EHCPs in 2024 were issued within the 20-week legal deadline.
The paper - Every child achieving and thriving - includes a pledge of £4 billion over three years to overhaul the SEND system, with changes including:
A £1.6 bn Inclusive Mainstream Fund for early support and targeted interventions in all schools.
£1.8bn to create an “experts at hand” service, provided by local authorities, to fund additional SEND teachers and speech and language therapists.
EHCPs will be reserved for children with the ‘most severe and complex needs’, while other children with needs will get new Individual Support Plans (ISPs). These have some legal rights but not full EHCP status. EHCPs will be reviewed when children move to secondary school, with new criteria applied.
Our CEO, Professor Eamon McCrory, said:
“Families and education staff tell us all the time that the current system of support for students with SEND is fragmented, slow and combative. It can feel like an uphill battle, often taking a huge amount of energy and resource to navigate. Clearly, reform is urgently needed, but change must strengthen not dismantle support.
“While we’re still looking into the detail, there are reasons to be optimistic about some of the changes announced this week. The emphasis on inclusivity as well as early, local and evidence-based interventions align with Anna Freud’s priorities. Plans to better embed support in mainstream schools, along with investment to train the workforce, boost capacity and increase specialist expertise, are really welcome. We hope this, alongside shared accountabilities across local partners, will help schools support young people with SEND much earlier and even prevent problems, breaking down barriers to education that can cause and compound mental health problems.
“On the other hand, the tightening of EHCP eligibility means many families will be anxious about their legal protections being diluted. While imperfect, EHCPs provide a vital safety net for tens of thousands of children. Those who do not meet the threshold for an EHCP going forwards must not fall through the gaps and we need clarity on how ‘complex needs’ will be defined in the new tiered system.
“We urge the government to keep listening to young people, families and education staff throughout the consultation and beyond. Their voices, alongside appropriate resourcing and an emphasis on the wellbeing of the whole school community, are essential for building an education system that works for everyone.”