On 23 February 2026, the government published “Every Child Achieving and Thriving,” its long-awaited SEND White Paper. If you have a child with SEND, you’ve probably seen the headlines. Some of them are alarming.
The truth is more nuanced than most coverage suggests. Significant changes are coming, but they’re years away. And in the meantime, every existing EHCP right stays exactly as it is.
Here’s what the White Paper actually says, what it means for your family, and what you should do right now.
The headline changes
The White Paper sets out a new model for how children with SEND receive support. The biggest change is a move from Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) to a new system called Individual Support Plans (ISPs).
Individual Support Plans (ISPs) will replace EHCPs from September 2029, with transition beginning September 2030. The government says this shift is about making support available faster and reducing the need for families to fight through lengthy assessment processes. Whether the new system delivers on that promise will depend on the detail, which hasn’t been published yet.
The Triple Lock
One of the most important parts of the White Paper is the “Triple Lock” on parent and carer rights. This is the government’s commitment that three core protections will remain in the new system.
- Legal right to support - Your child will retain a legal right to the provision specified in their plan
- Right to appeal - You will still be able to appeal decisions to the SEND Tribunal
- Duty to provide named provision - The local authority will still have a duty to deliver what the plan specifies
These three protections mirror the key rights that parents currently have under EHCPs. The fact that they’ve been explicitly named is significant. It means the government recognises that without them, the system doesn’t work.
The Triple Lock matters because it means ISPs should carry legal weight, just like EHCPs do now. If the duty to provide named provision is removed or weakened during consultation, that changes everything. Respond to the consultation (deadline 18 May 2026) and make this point clearly.
What changes from EHCPs to ISPs
The White Paper doesn’t publish the full ISP framework yet. But based on what it does say, here are the key differences being proposed.
The push towards mainstream inclusion is a key theme. The White Paper argues that too many children are placed in specialist settings not because they need them, but because mainstream schools lack the resources to support them. Additional funding is proposed to change this.
The investment
The White Paper comes with a headline figure of approximately four billion pounds in additional investment, beginning in 2029. This covers new funding for mainstream schools to build SEND capacity, training for teachers and Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs), and improvements to specialist provision where it’s genuinely needed.
Whether this amount is enough will depend on how it’s distributed and over what timeframe. The current system is under severe strain, with assessment backlogs, tribunal appeal rates at record levels, and many LAs effectively bankrupt from SEND spending. Four billion over several years may not be enough to fix all of that.
The timeline
Nothing changes immediately. The White Paper sets out a phased timeline.
The earliest any change takes effect is September 2029. That’s over three years away. And even then, existing EHCPs won’t transition until at least September 2030.
Why you should still apply for an EHCP now
This is the single most important message in this article. If your child needs an EHCP, apply now. Don’t wait.
Nothing in the White Paper changes your current rights. EHCPs remain in force, the 20-week assessment timeline still applies, and your right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal is unchanged. Waiting for ISPs could mean years without the support your child needs.
The White Paper explicitly states that existing EHCPs will be honoured during the transition period. Children with EHCPs will not lose their plans overnight. The transition will be phased and managed.
If your child is struggling now, the EHCP process is the route to legally enforceable support. Applying now means your child gets help sooner, not later.
What to watch for
The White Paper is a statement of intent, not legislation. Several critical questions remain unanswered: How will ISPs be assessed, and will there be statutory timescales like the current 20 weeks? Will schools receive the funding and training before ISPs are introduced, or after? Will Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) actually deliver their part, given current NHS pressures? What happens to children mid-EHCP when ISPs arrive, and will provision continue uninterrupted? Will the SEND Tribunal retain its current scope, or will appeal rights be narrowed?
The consultation is the place to raise these concerns. The deadline is 18 May 2026, and we’ve written a separate guide on how to respond to the consultation.
Getting help
IPSEA is monitoring the White Paper closely and will publish detailed analysis as the proposals develop. Their helpline (0300 222 5899) remains available for advice on current EHCP rights.
Your local SENDIASS can help you understand what the White Paper means for your child’s specific situation and support you with EHCP applications and reviews.
Special Needs Jungle publishes detailed policy analysis aimed at parents and will be covering the consultation and legislation as it develops.
How our free tool can help
The AI assistant at SEND Parents Help covers EHCPs in full detail, including how to apply, what happens at each stage, and what to do if the LA refuses. It can also explain the White Paper proposals and how they relate to your child’s current support.
The system is changing, but not yet
The White Paper signals real change. But change takes years in the SEND system. Your child’s needs are now.
If your child needs an EHCP, apply. If your child’s EHCP isn’t being delivered, challenge it. If the LA is missing deadlines, escalate. None of that changes because of a White Paper.
When the consultation closes and legislation begins to take shape, we’ll cover every development. But today, the law that protects your child is the Children and Families Act 2014, and it remains fully in force.
Sources and further reading
Legislation and official guidance
- Children and Families Act 2014, Part 3 (current EHCP legal framework)
- Every Child Achieving and Thriving: SEND White Paper (full White Paper publication)
- SEND White Paper consultation (Citizen Space consultation, deadline 18 May 2026)