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SEND reforms: Putting children and young people first
Published
The Department for Education (DfE) published the Schools White Paper in February which includes proposed reforms to the SEND system. Alongside this, the DfE launched a public consultation to gather views on the proposals. The consultation closes on 18 May 2026 and the SEND and Inclusion Local Area Partnership (SILAP) would encourage families to share their views.
The proposed timeline for SEND reforms in England includes several key milestones. These milestones outline the progression of the proposed SEND reforms, with a focus on improving support for children with SEND and ensuring they receive the right support earlier and closer to home.
- February 2026: The Schools White Paper and SEND reform consultation were published SEND reform: putting children and young people first - GOV.UK.
- February 23, 2026: The consultation on proposed changes launched SEND reform: putting children and young people first - Department for Education - Citizen Space.
- May 18, 2026: The consultation on SEND proposals closes and public input on the reforms will be considered.
- 2026/27 academic year: The National SEND training programme will begin for all educators.
- 2027/28 academic year: Final publication of Specialist Provision Packages and a new needs assessment process.
- 2029/30 academic year: The new needs system will be fully implemented, with assessments for children starting from this date.
In Gloucestershire, the SEND and Inclusion Local Area Partnership (SILAP) are working together on a joint response to all aspects of the consultation.
Read more about SILAP here Latest SILAP board meeting summary | Gloucestershire County Council
Council welcomes government investment in specialist SEND support | Gloucestershire County Council
There is a video explaining main points of the reforms.
For more information, please see the article on opportunities to have your say in the consultation on the SEND reforms and please visit the 'Have your Say' page on Gloucestershire's Local Offer, Support for Families with SEND