Politics Weekly UK Major changes to the Send system - can the government win over MPs and parents?
Feb 23, 2026
A deep dive into planned changes to the special educational needs and disabilities system and how new Individual Support Plans could replace many EHCPs. Discussion of funding shifts, phased rollout dates and the pressure on schools and councils. Analysis of MPs’ reactions and the political risk for the government. Coverage of the Gorton and Denton by-election and what it signals for party strategy.
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SEND System Growth Has Reached A Tipping Point
- The EHCP system has ballooned from ~240,000 in 2014 to ~640,000 now, creating a major financial and operational strain on local authorities.
- Kieran Stacey explains this rapid growth is why ministers argue the system is unsustainable and needs redesign to avoid even larger future costs.
New Two Tier System Replaces Some EHCPs With ISPs
- The government plans a two-tier approach: keep legally protected EHCPs for complex needs and introduce school-led Individual Support Plans (ISPs) for lower-level needs.
- Kieran Stacey notes ISPs are school-decided, mainly school-funded, and lack the independent tribunal route parents currently use with EHCPs.
Reforms Are Phased Years Ahead Creating Short Term Uncertainty
- The reform rollout is gradual: extra funding now (£4bn over three years) but reassessments start in September 2029 with the system beginning in 2030.
- Pippa Crerar and Kieran both stress that reforms won't be legislated until about 2028, giving time for consultation but creating long parental uncertainty.