Rulebook · Proposed change, not law
SEND reform proposals (February 2026)
The government has proposed changes to the SEND system in England, in a Schools White Paper and a consultation published in February 2026. The consultation closed in May 2026. On 30 September 2026, nothing in them had changed EHC plans, assessments, time limits, mediation or tribunal appeals. Proposals are not law: the law in force today continues to apply until new law is made and comes into force.
The consultation says it wants the SEND Tribunal to be "a genuine last resort", by improving mediation and school complaints. It also says families can continue to use mediation and appeal to the tribunal. Plenda will describe any new rules only once they are made and come into force, in a new dated rule pack.
- Type of rule
- Proposal, not law
- Rule id
pending.send_reform_2026- Rules version
- england-2026.10
- Law as at
- 30 September 2026
Sources
- Department for Education, SEND reform: putting children and young people first (consultation, February 2026)Official guidance
Related
- SEND reforms 2026 (proposals, not law)
- EHC plan (education, health and care plan)
- EHC needs assessment
- Time limits for assessments and plans (6, 16 and 20 weeks)
- Mediation
- SEND Tribunal (First-tier Tribunal)
- Decisions that can be appealed to the SEND Tribunal
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