Children with the most complex special educational needs and disabilities will continue to receive legally protected support plans under the Government’s proposed schools reforms, according to the Education Secretary. Ministers say the changes aim to address long-standing problems in the current system while ensuring that pupils with the highest levels of need do not lose access to essential help.
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The reforms, set out in a new Schools White Paper, would see education, health and care plans (EHCPs) retained for children with the most complex needs, while a new system of individual support plans (ISPs) is introduced for others. These ISPs would be based on assessed need rather than medical diagnosis and would provide tiered support within mainstream settings. The Department for Education has indicated that the proportion of children with EHCPs is expected to fall gradually from 2030, although current plans will remain in place until at least that date.
Ministers argue that the new framework will allow earlier intervention and reduce the need for families to pursue lengthy legal challenges to secure support. The Government has committed additional funding to the system, with budgets rising in the late 2020s to help address forecast deficits faced by local authorities. However, some organisations representing disabled children have raised concerns about how “complex needs” will be defined and whether access to EHCPs could become more restricted in practice.
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The changes will be subject to consultation, with assessments under the new system due to begin in 2029 and no immediate impact on existing provision. Oversight will be provided by Ofsted, and parents will retain rights to appeal decisions relating to EHCPs through tribunals, while disputes over ISPs will follow standard complaints processes. The Government maintains that the reforms are intended to create a more inclusive system that delivers appropriate support more consistently across schools.
