What the new DfE SEND reform means for your school
In February 2026 the DfE announced a Special Educational Needs and Disability provision reform.
These upcoming changes require schools to take a closer look at their current SEND provision and make plans for further training to align themselves with the new requirements.
Support your staff and pupils with targeted SEND training for schools and MATs. Download our FREE guide to utilising funded training to get ready for the SEND reform.
EHCP Access
Process
of Support
at Hand
What is this reform looking to resolve?
The reform aims to tackle several growing concerns with the current SEND process, hoping to simplify the current stressful and length procedure that parents and pupils need to endure in order to get support.
The new simplified plan should help to make the process less adversarial and rebuild trust between parents and schools.
Additionally, while the government has currently committed 4 billion pound to make mainstream schools more inclusive, the long-term changes aim to reduce cost for schools and local authorities.
What is changing?
A universal offer
✔ New baseline for support offering for mainstream schools.
✔ Meeting the needs of most pupils through a new standardised support offering.
✔ Further training for schools and teachers.
✔ Inclusive leadership and governance planning.
✔ Evidence-based support for pupils
✔ Strong partnerships with families and wider services.
More specialist support in mainstream schools
✔ Early support and intervention through specialist offering.
✔ Introduction of "Experts at Hand" programme.
✔ Access to specialist expertise.
✔ Expertise includes: occupational therapy and speech & language therapy.
✔ Government pledge of £1.8 billion to local areas to implement service.
Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
✔ By 2035, only children with the most complex needs will qualify for EHCPs.
✔ Change to begin in 2030.
✔ EHCP is not the “golden ticket” to get support.
✔ Need for EHCP to be mitigated through early intervention and specialist support.
✔ New three tiers of support: Targeted, Targeted-plus, Specialist.
How schools can prepare for the SEND reform
The new SEND reform is layered and complex, but one thing is clear: the aim is to provide children and young people with accessible specialist support as early as possible. As more gets revealed and the plans are set in motion, schools should be prepared to enhance their current SEND provision, starting with training up their existing staff.
LMP Education has a range of SEND training programmes available for schools, from SEND Teaching Assistant pathways to Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant programmes.
LMP Education's SEND Offer
✓ Funded training programmes for existing staff
by the growth and skills levy
✓ Free recruitment service to hire new staff
for all schools and MATs
✓ Free Skills & Growth Levy strategy consultation
for all schools and MATs
The SEND Crisis in Education:
How apprenticeships and funded training can develop school staff
Discover latest industry insights and learn how you can prepare your school for the upcoming SEND reform.
"Working with LMP Education has been an excellent experience. The team is consistently professional, approachable, and highly supportive. Their processes are clear and robust yet designed in a way that doesn’t overwhelm mentors or staff."
Claire Milton, Acting Headteacher at Two rivers High School
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