SEND White Paper 2026: What Every Child Achieving and Thriving Means for Local Authorities and the SEND Workforce

The long-awaited SEND White Paper has landed. Published yesterday by the Department for Education, Every Child Achieving and Thriving sets out the government’s most ambitious overhaul of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system in a generation. For local authorities, SEND professionals, and the families they serve, the implications are significant and the workforce demands that follow could be transformative.

Here, we break down what the white paper means, what changes are coming, and how the sector should prepare.

What Is the SEND White Paper 2026?

Every Child Achieving and Thriving is the government’s comprehensive schools white paper, laid before Parliament on 23 February 2026 by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. It addresses the full breadth of education reform in England, with a major focus on fixing a SEND system widely acknowledged to be under severe strain. Councils currently hold an estimated £6 billion in high needs deficits, demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) has more than doubled since 2014 and too many families report having to fight at every turn for the support their children are entitled to.

The white paper is built around five core principles for SEND: Early (support at the first sign of need), Local (provision close to home), Fair (consistent national standards), Effective (evidence-based practice), and Shared (education, health and care working together). These principles underpin every major reform announced today.

The Key SEND Reforms at a Glance

A shift from EHCPs to Individual Support Plans (ISPs) Perhaps the most significant structural change is the introduction of Individual Support Plans. Every child with identified SEND, including the estimated 1.4 million who do not currently hold an EHCP, will have a statutory ISP developed by their school. EHCPs will be retained for children with the most complex needs, but from 2029, children will be reassessed for EHCPs as they transition between key phases of education. Critically, no child with a special school place when reforms begin in 2029 will lose it, and children in Year 3 or above will keep their EHCP until at least the age of 16.

£4 billion investment in SEND The white paper is backed by a substantial funding package. A £1.6 billion Inclusive Mainstream Fund will go directly to early years settings, schools and colleges to resource early intervention; funding small group language support, adaptive teaching, and targeted help without requiring a legal plan to be in place first. An additional £1.8 billion will establish a new Experts at Hand service, creating pools of specialists including educational psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and SEND teachers. These will be accessible in every local area, with or without an EHCP. Once fully rolled out, an average secondary school will receive over 160 days of dedicated specialist time each year.

SEND training for every teacher £200 million is committed to a national SEND training programme, described as the largest training offer in English education, beginning in the 2026/27 academic year. Every teacher in mainstream schools will be trained to identify and support additional needs.

60,000 new specialist places Over £3.7 billion in capital investment underpins the creation of 60,000 new specialist school places, with 10,000 already delivered. This aims to reduce the reliance on costly independent and out-of-area placements that have become a growing pressure for councils.

Strengthened local authority commissioning Every council will be required to work alongside Integrated Care Boards to commission specialist professionals as a matter of routine, not as an exception. Alongside this, £200 million will support local authorities to transform how they operate in line with the reforms while maintaining current SEND services.

What This Means for Local Authorities and the SEND Workforce

The scale of change set out in this white paper has direct workforce implications. Local authorities will need to lead the implementation of these reforms from the ground up; commissioning new services, supporting schools through the transition to ISPs, managing the phased move away from EHCP-led processes, and upholding statutory duties throughout.

Roles such as EHCP Writers, SEND Tribunal Officers, SEND Coordinators and Educational Psychologists will remain central to the delivery of reform and in many cases, demand for these professionals is likely to increase as councils work to build compliant, inclusive systems at pace. The 12-week consultation launched alongside the white paper will give the sector a further opportunity to shape how implementation unfolds in practice.

For SEND professionals already working in, or considering a move into, local authority and education settings, this is a pivotal moment. The reforms signal long-term investment and structural stability in a sector that has faced considerable uncertainty.

Hamptons Resourcing: Our View

Jay Nagra, SEND Executive Consultant at Hamptons Resourcing, shares his perspective:

“The publication of this white paper is a significant moment for the SEND sector, and one that has been a long time coming. There is much here to welcome; the scale of investment, the commitment to earlier intervention, and the recognition that the current system is failing too many children and placing unsustainable pressure on local authorities.

That said, the shift away from an EHCP-centric model is a substantial change, and the sector will rightly scrutinise the detail closely. Families need reassurance that new Individual Support Plans will carry genuine accountability, and that no child loses access to the support they currently rely on. For local authorities, the challenge will be implementing transformative change whilst managing existing demand and doing so with the right people in place.

From a workforce perspective, this white paper actually underscores the importance of experienced SEND professionals more than ever. Whether it is EHCP writers supporting children through the transition, SEND coordinators building school capacity, or Tribunal officers navigating the legal framework during this period of change; skilled, specialist people will be at the heart of making these reforms real. We’re cautiously optimistic, and we’ll be watching the consultation phase closely.”

How Hamptons Resourcing Can Help

At Hamptons Resourcing, our dedicated SEND and Education team works with local authorities and education settings across England to source the specialist professionals needed to deliver complex SEND services. We understand the nuance of these roles, the pace at which the sector moves, and the importance of placing people who can make an immediate impact.

Are you a local authority or education provider preparing for SEND reform? Our consultants can help you build the right team for the road ahead. Get in touch with our SEND team today.

Are you a SEND professional looking for your next role? Whether you are an experienced EHCP writer, a SEND coordinator, or a Tribunal officer, we have opportunities across the country. Explore our current SEND vacancies.

Hamptons Resourcing is a specialist recruitment agency with dedicated teams in social care and education, including SEND and local authority services. To find out more, visit hamptonsresourcing.com.

Tags: SEND White Paper 2026 | Every Child Achieving and Thriving | EHCP Reform | Individual Support Plans | SEND Recruitment | Local Authority SEND | SEND Workforce | SEND Jobs 2026 | Bridget Phillipson White Paper