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UK government confirms SEND rights for children
Pledge claims radical package of learner rights
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Monday 2nd March 2026 |
The UK government has unveiled a generational reform to the education system, aimed at ending the "one size fits all" approach that has historically failed many families.
Published on 23 February 2026, these plans represent a radical expansion of legal rights for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The government's announcement promises that every child with SEND will have a legal right to an individual support plan (ISP).
Currently, more than a million children in England lack enforceable rights; this change aims to ensure they receive personalised interventions drawn from a national framework.
The initiative is backed by multi-billion-pound investments.
For example, schools are expected to provide easier access to speech and language therapy (SaLT) and small group teaching as a routine service rather than being a "fight".
Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) will be retained and improved for people requiring more intensive support.
Both ISPs and EHCPs will be digitised to help reduce red tape.
For example, someone with an EHCP will also have an ISP to outline exactly how their support package is delivered by their school every day.
Finally, a "triple lock" of protections promises that no child will lose effective support during the transition to the new system.
Parents will retain the right to appeal to a SEND Tribunal regarding support packages or school placements - and families will have the right to choose their preferred school when moving from primary to secondary education.
Source: UK Government
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/
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