A new system has been proposed to reform the way SEND systems function in schools

The new plans are set to be in place from 2030 and it is suggested that a lot fewer children will gain EHCPs (education health care plans) under the new system. Children with lifelong, severe disabilities and learning difficulties will gain an EHCP but the new system is set to refine and reduce the number. Children with more minor needs will still gain help and instead be assigned an Individual Support Plan (ISP). They will still gain high-quality tailored care with access to therapy and specialists where required.

The funding is aiming to bring together professionals such as educational psychologists, therapists and speech and language therapists to ensure that children gain early support in an attempt to reduce the support that they might need later down the line. The new ISPs will be easily accessible unlike the current EHCPs. The aim is to keep children in mainstream schools too by giving schools support with access to required professionals in the local area. Schools will become more inclusive where children can be supported alongside their peers who do not need additional support.

£1.6 billion of the funding is said to be going directly to schools to allow them to access specialist teachers and educational psychologists instead of having to rely on the local authority to organise these services. This equates to a few thousand pounds per setting and subsequently the funding has been critiqued as it is not enough to make drastic changes.

Students in Year 6 in 2029 will be the first children reviewed under the new system and assigned ISPs . They will begin secondary school in 2030 with their ISPs so we can expect to observe the changes in four years time.

A new system has been proposed to reform the way SEND systems function in schools

Questions

1. Do EHCPs need to be removed?

2. Who will be responsible for ISPs?

3. What changes might be needed for the curriculum?