What the government’s reforms actually mean for your child.
The briefing
What’s Changing
The government published its “Every Child Achieving and Thriving” White Paper on 23 February 2026. It proposes Individual Support Plans (ISPs) for mainstream SEN support and reserves EHCPs for children with the most complex needs. These are proposals, not yet law. They were put out for a 12-week public consultation, which closed in May 2026, and the government is now considering the responses before drafting legislation.
The changes are phased and not immediate. Under the White Paper, the statutory move to ISPs and the reassessment of EHCPs would not begin until September 2029, with wider rollout continuing to 2035. What matters for you now: your EHCP is unchanged and remains fully enforceable. It is still worth understanding the direction of travel, because some Local Authorities already try to move children off EHCP-level support through annual reviews and decisions to cease plans, and knowing your rights is how you protect your child’s.
The timeline
The Dates That Matter
23 Feb 2026The White Paper is published.
May 2026The 12-week public consultation closes.
NowThe government is considering responses before drafting legislation. Your EHCP is unchanged and fully enforceable.
Sept 2029The earliest the statutory move to ISPs and EHCP reassessment would begin.
To 2035Wider rollout continues under the White Paper’s phasing.
What this means
What This Means for Your Child
If your child currently has an EHCP, your Local Authority may contact you about transitioning to an ISP. Here is what you need to know:
You have the legal right to refuse
An EHCP is legally enforceable. An ISP is not. This is the single most important distinction.
An ISP carries fewer protections
An ISP does not carry the same statutory protections as an EHCP. If your child’s support is written into an ISP and the school fails to deliver it, you have significantly fewer legal options.
Watch actions, not announcements
The government has said that no child will lose support during the transition. Watch what your Local Authority does, not what the government says.
What you can do now
Before Your Next Annual Review
Request that your child’s next Annual Review explicitly documents why EHCP-level support remains necessary. Ask the school to record the specific hours, therapies, and provisions your child receives and why each one is essential. This creates a paper trail that makes an ISP downgrade legally difficult for your Local Authority to justify.
Keep every letter, email, and document from your Local Authority and school. If they propose changes, ask for the proposal in writing. Never agree to anything verbally.
Where to get help
If This Is Already Happening to You
If your Local Authority is already pushing for an ISP transition, or if you want to understand your rights before they do, these can help:
The Briefing tells you what’s changing. The Booklet gives you what to say about it: word-for-word scripts, letters, and print-and-use tools for the meetings that decide your child’s support.
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