SEND reforms 2026: anticipating a system reset amid rising pressures and sector uncertainty

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This week’s long-awaited SEND reforms, which were postponed from autumn 2025 to early 2026 due to the scale of consultation and the far-reaching implications of proposed changes, represent one of the most significant shifts in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) policy in over a decade. The announcement follows months of sector speculation and multiple press leaks pointing to a fundamental redesign of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and the introduction of a new tiered support structure.

A recent report by the BBC highlights the sheer scale of today’s SEND landscape. Just under 1.7 million pupils - that’s almost one in five - receive SEND support, and 483,000 pupils (5%) in schools hold EHCPs, rising to 639,000 young people up to age 25 when those in further education and non-school settings are included. This rapid increase has driven spiralling costs for local authorities, with the County Councils Network (CCN) noting that, despite £30 billion additional SEND investment over the last decade, educational outcomes have not improved proportionately, and high‑needs deficits are projected to reach £6 billion by 2026.

Leaked proposals suggest a landmark shift. From 2029, children with EHCPs may be reassessed at key education transition points, especially the move from primary to secondary school, with the intention of reducing reliance on full statutory plans. At the same time, a new system of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) would extend some level of legal recognition to a further 1.28 million children, though the precise rights attached remain unclear. Alongside this - a three-tier or four-tier national support structure - is expected to standardise pathways between ‘Targeted’, ‘Targeted Plus’, and ‘Specialist’ support, potentially reserving EHCPs exclusively for the most complex needs.

Financial sustainability remains central to the reform narrative. Both the BBC and Sky News highlight local authorities’ severe funding pressures, lengthy assessment delays and rising tribunal appeals -99% of which were found in favour of families in 2023, as evidence of a system struggling to cope. Meanwhile, the Government has already signalled a crackdown on independent special school fees, proposing national price bands following revelations that average fees sit at £63,000 per child per year, with some charging more than £100,000.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE SEND SCHOOLS MARKET?

From a market and investor‑analysis perspective, our Business Outlook 2026 report confirms that the demand for SEND school places continues to outstrip supply, buoyed by a 10.8% rise in EHCPs in 2025 and sustained buyer appetite. New specialist school openings by Melrose Education, Spaghetti Bridge and Compass Schools during 2025 illustrate the sector’s continued expansion despite policy uncertainty. The forthcoming Schools White Paper will set out a new framework for supporting SEND pupils, potentially replacing EHCPs altogether and reinforcing mainstream inclusion expectations.

Our April 2025 roundtable on children’s social care highlighted a crucial parallel: profit‑capping, funding reform and system redesign must never obscure what matters most, which is the child at the centre. The roundtable underscored the need for outcomes-led frameworks, reinvestment in quality, and constructive collaboration between providers and local authorities.

While full sight of the detail is yet to be published, regretfully and disappointingly, I suspect the measures announced will likely have central finances at heart, rather than sufficient funding and support to enable every child and young person to thrive.

As the sector awaits this formal publication, the consensus is clear - reforms must be evidence-based, outcomes-focused, and operationally workable, ensuring national consistency while enabling meaningful early intervention. For children, parents and providers, the coming week will set the trajectory for a decade-defining reshaping of SEND education and care in England.

To discuss the SEND market, get in touch: courteney.donaldson@christie.com or 07831 099 985