Navigating the Shift: A Guide for Parents Worried About SEND Reforms

  It’s completely natural to feel a wave of anxiety when you hear the words "government reform" and "SEND" in the same sentence. For many of us, the current system has already been a battle to get even basic support. Recent research shows nearly half of all parents fear these upcoming changes might strip away vital help. So SEND reform is needed but will the new system be better? If you are feeling overwhelmed, here is what you need to know about the Every Child Achieving and Thriving White Paper (published 23 February 2026) and how to navigate the road ahead.

What are Individual Support Plans (ISPs)? The New Alternative to EHCPs

 

1. What is actually changing?

The government SEND reforms are moving towards a tiered system designed to provide help earlier, often without needing a formal diagnosis first. Individual Support Plans (ISPs): Schools will now develop these digital plans for children with "Targeted" or "Targeted Plus" needs. The goal is to provide instantaneous access to things like speech therapy or small group teaching. EHCPs are staying: Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) will remain the legal "gold standard" for children with the most complex needs. Phased transition: Most changes won't be fully implemented until September 2029. If your child is currently in Year 3 or above, they will retain their existing EHCP until at least age 16.

Key Features of an ISP (Individual Support Plan).

School-Led: Plans are drawn up by schools in consultation with parents and specialists. Flexible Support: ISPs detail day-to-day help, drawing from a national framework of interventions like speech and language therapy or small group teaching. Tiered System: The ISP determines which of the three new layers of support a child receives: Targeted, Targeted Plus, or Specialist. Digital Format: These plans will be digitised to reduce paperwork and allow for easier transitions between schools.

ISP vs. EHCP, Key Features of SEND Reforms.

 

2. Common fears vs. Reality: SEND Reforms

Fear: "My child will lose their EHCP." Reality: Existing EHCPs remain valid. However, children in Year 2 or below today may be reassessed when they transition from primary to secondary school. If their needs can be met in a mainstream setting with an ISP, they may move to that new system. Fear: "Mainstream schools aren't ready." Reality: The government has pledged over £1 billion to build capacity in mainstream schools, including a requirement for all secondary schools to have an inclusion base.

3. Your Action Plan: How to stay in control

You are the expert on your child. Here is how to keep advocating for them: Check the "Local Offer": Every local authority must publish a Local Offer directory listing all available support and parent groups in your area.

How to Find Your Local Offer and Free Legal Advice (IASS)

Connect with IASS: Your local Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS) provides free, impartial legal advice on SEND. Use the Council for Disabled Children's finder to find yours. Leverage expert charities: Reach out to organisations like IPSEA for independent legal advice or Contact for family support and guides. Document everything: Continue to keep a paper trail of all communications with your school and local authority. If you feel an EHCP is being unfairly denied, the tribunal process remains an option. Change is unsettling, especially when your child’s well-being is at stake. While the system is shifting, your legal rights to ensure your child receives an education that works for them are still protected by law.

CosyChats Experience and Opinion; SEND Reforms, EHCP and ISP.

SEND reforms are welcomed, the system needs improvement but.

The "Good" (On Paper)

The "Wait-and-See" (The Reality)

The Cosy Verdict

How CosyChats can support you through the ECHP maze.

One of the most powerful tools you have right now isn’t a government document—it’s the person sitting (virtually) right next to you. Here at CosyChats, we believe there is no expert quite like a parent who has already walked the path.

If you’re feeling lost in the jargon of ISPs and tiers, lean on this community; we have parents here who have spent years navigating the SEND system, successfully overturning tribunal decisions, and securing the provision their children deserve. By sharing our "lived experience," we can help you shortcut the stress, decode the new reforms, and find the confidence to advocate for your child. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel or fight this corner alone—our collective voice is always stronger than a solo one. Worried about SEND reforms or any element of SEND support? Visit CosyChats to find your perfect parent or email contact@cosychats.com and we'll suggest parents based on your needs.

How to contact your school's Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO)

Below is a template you can use to contact your school's Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) regarding the recent reforms and your child's specific support.




  Individual Support Plan (ISP): When does the school intend to begin the transition to digital ISPs, and how will parents be involved in co-producing these plans? Inclusion Support: With the new requirement for secondary inclusion bases, what additional resources or staff training has the school secured to support [Child’s Name]’s specific needs? Stability of Support: Can you confirm that [Child’s Name]’s existing support will remain in place during this transition period?
I have attached [Child's Name]'s most recent [Individual Education Plan/professional report] to help inform our discussion.