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SEND reforms: Shaping the future of SEND support in Gloucestershire

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This September marks the start of the next phase of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform in Gloucestershire, as national SEND reforms and Gloucestershire's Local SEND Reform Plan begin to move from planning into delivery. Here the Education team details why these changes matter.
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The ambition is simple: children and young people should receive the right support, at the right time, and as close to home as possible.

Keep up to date with SEND reforms with regular bulletins on what’s happening in Gloucestershire on the Gloucestershire’s SEND Reform Plan 2026–2029 page of Gloucestershire's Local Offer for Parent Carers Support for Families with SEND.

What is changing?

The reforms seek to create a more joined-up SEND system across education, health and care, with a stronger focus on:

  • Earlier identification and intervention before needs escalate.
  • Stronger inclusion in mainstream schools and settings.
  • Improved access to specialist expertise and advice.
  • More support available locally within communities.
  • Better coordination between education, health and care services.
  • Greater involvement of children, young people and families in shaping services.

What will families experience differently?

Over time, families should see:

  • Clearer information and pathways through an improved Local Offer.
  • Faster access to advice and support.
  • Greater consistency in how support is provided across services.
  • More support delivered locally rather than children having to travel further from home.
  • Increased opportunities for children and young people to have their voices heard in decisions affecting them.

Key developments rolling out

Several major workstreams are now beginning implementation:

  • Experts at Hand will bring specialist multidisciplinary support, including educational psychology, advisory teaching, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, closer to schools and families.
  • Locality Working will strengthen collaboration between education, health, care and community partners to respond more effectively to local needs.
  • SEND Sufficiency Planning will increase local capacity through developments such as inclusion bases, strengthened specialist provision and improved pathways of support, helping more children remain in their local communities.

Why this matters

Demand for SEND support continues to grow both locally and nationally. The reforms are designed to improve experiences and outcomes for children and young people while creating a more sustainable system for the future.

Successful delivery will require continued collaboration across Gloucestershire County Council, schools, health partners, families and community organisations. SEND is everyone's business, and these reforms place partnership working at the heart of future success.

Looking ahead

The Local SEND Reform Plan provides Gloucestershire's roadmap for change over the coming years. While improvements will take time, this September represents an important milestone as the county begins implementing a more inclusive, connected and responsive system of support for children and young people with SEND.

For more information, please visit Support for Families with SEND - Gloucestershire's Local Offer for Parent Carers