The Story The biggest shake-up of special educational needs in a decade
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Feb 25, 2026 Georgia Lambert, education reporter at The Times, breaks down the SEND white paper, funding pledges and the proposed tiered support model. Hayley Harding, parent and SEND campaigner, shares personal struggles securing placements for her sons and her work advising ministers. They discuss who might benefit or lose out, funding questions, workload pressures for schools and worries about appeal routes and reassessments.
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Connor's Day To Day Turnaround With SEND Support
- Hayley Harding describes Connor transforming from screaming at school to entering happy after receiving SEND support.
- She details quiet separate entry, adapted curriculum, a one-to-one and a back table for desensitisation that let him engage academically.
Why EHCP Wording Makes Or Breaks Support
- EHCPs are lengthy legal documents that must include precise provision in section F to be enforceable.
- Vague wording like "access to support" prevents enforcement, causing many parents to fight for specific statements such as hours of therapy.
SEND Has Become High Cost Low Reward
- The current SEND system is financially unsustainable with councils resorting to costly independent placements and rising diagnoses.
- Government aims to shift from reactive crisis responses to early inclusive mainstream provision to reduce expensive out-of-area placements.