SEND Reforms: Have Your Say Before 18 May

The government has published plans to reform the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) system for children and young people in England.

Consultation closes at 11:59pm on 18 May 2026.

The government has said it wants to hear from as many people as possible with experience of the SEND system.

Now is the moment to make your voice heard.

Respond to the consultation →

How to Respond: Use Our Members’ Guides

Some of our member organisations have created guides, toolkits, explainers and responses to help you understand what these proposed changes could mean — and how to share your views. You can use whichever one works best for you:

Adoption UK  — A practical guide from Adoption UK that breaks down the government’s SEND reform consultation and helps adoptive families and others caring for care-experienced children understand the proposals and respond with informed feedback. Read this guide →

Ambitious About Autism — Guide designed for autistic young people and families, with FAQs explaining the White Paper in plain language and an Insight Guide that breaks down key questions, proposals and terms. Includes practical tips on what to focus on and how to structure your response. Read this guide →

Contact — Contact supports families of disabled children, and this article clarifies what’s being proposed, what it means for families, and how to have your say — while making it clear that current legal rights remain unchanged during consultation. Read this guide →

Council for Disabled Children — This response sets out the organisation’s position on the Schools White Paper, welcoming its vision for more inclusive education while highlighting key priorities, concerns, and areas where further clarity and safeguards are needed to make the reforms work in practice. Read this statement →

Dingley’s Promise — Focused on supporting children in the early years with special educational needs and disabilities, Dingley’s Promise welcomes the stronger focus on early years support, while highlighting key gaps and risks. Read their response →

Kids — Kids works with children, young people and their families, and their guide clearly breaks down each of the key proposals in plain, accessible language. Read this guide →

National Autistic Society — This toolkit offers practical guidance for autistic people and allies to campaign for better SEND services, with flexible ways to get involved. They have also developed a toolkit for teachers and professionals. Read this toolkit →

SEDS Connective — Supporting neurodivergent people with symptomatic hypermobility, SEDS Connective amplifies lived experience to shape better care and support. Read their statement →

Sense — Sense has created a simple, step-by-step tool to help people respond to the consultation, with a focus on the experiences of families of disabled children with complex needs. Access this tool →

Speech and Language UK — This guide helps families and professionals navigate the SEND consultation with clear, step-by-step support, including a how-to video. Access this guide →

The government is inviting feedback on these proposals, with the consultation open until 11:59pm on 18 May 2026.

Make your voice heard by sharing your views through this online form.

Respond to the consultation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Disabled Children’s Partnership responding?

The Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) is a coalition of more than 130 organisations representing thousands of families.

We have welcomed the Government’s overall vision for a system where children and young people can get help earlier and the significant focus and new investment on training staff and ensuring all schools are inclusive.

We also welcome the commitment for legal backing to the support children receive in schools through an Individual Support Plan (ISP). This needs to be strengthened through strong duties on schools to deliver what is in the ISP and clear accountability mechanisms.

It is also clear that the introduction of ISPs must not mean a dilution of rights to those with an EHCP. We are concerned that the proposals set out that part of a child’s support would be specified in an ISP rather than their EHCP. We also have serious concerns about proposals to limit EHCPs to children with “the most complex needs,” without clearly defining who this includes.

On the Tribunal, the consultation proposes that it will no longer be able to actually name a placement in an EHCP, reducing its authority to merely quashing a decision and ordering a local authority to reconsider. We are opposed to this change.

We also want to see more on how the government will ensure better engagement and accountability from health services, so children and young people with SEND can get the right access to health professionals.

Between now and 18 May, we’re taking action across multiple fronts to make sure families’ voices shape the final outcome, including:

  • Responding to the consultation with detailed evidence and recommendations
  • Mobilising families and supporters to ensure as many people as possible take part
  • Meeting and briefing MPs to ensure they are holding government to account
  • Engaging directly with ministers and officials to strengthen the proposals and secure meaningful changes
I’ve heard some decisions have already been made — is that true?

Along with other campaigners, the Disabled Children’s Partnership has raised concerns that some key decisions may already have been made — particularly around changes to Tribunal powers.

These concerns have arisen because of the government’s response to a proposed legal challenge to the consultation. In response to our questions, the government has said nothing has been decided on SEND reform until legislation is brought forward and that any changes will have to be approved by Parliament. They have also emphasised that they want to hear from as many people as possible who have experience of the SEND system about all of the proposals.

We would really like to encourage as many people to have their say so that government understands the real experiences of families and what parents and young people think of the changes.

Who can respond to the consultation?

The government has invited everyone who has an interest in these reforms to submit a response, including:

  • Children, young people and families
  • Teachers and leaders
  • Schools, trusts, early years and post-16 providers
  • Local authorities
  • Experts and academic organisations
  • Representative groups

You do not need to be a policy expert to take part. Your experience of the SEND system — what works, what doesn’t, and what you’re concerned about — is what matters most.

There is also an Easy Read version, which explains the proposals in simpler language and is designed to be easier to navigate. You can access it here.

Do I need to answer every question?

No. You can respond to as many — or as few — questions as you like. Focus on what matters most to you. For example, you might choose to comment on:

  • EHCP eligibility and who qualifies under “complex needs”
  • Tribunal powers
  • Individual Support Plans
  • School culture and inclusion
  • Health accountability and staff training

Even a short response on one or two issues can make a meaningful impact and will be taken into account.

How long will it take to respond?

That depends on how much you want to say. You could:

  • Respond to one or two questions in 15–20 minutes
  • Focus on key issues in 30–45 minutes
  • Give a detailed response across multiple areas in 1–2 hours

You don’t have to do it all in one go. You can save your progress and come back to it later.