Major Changes to EHCPs Announced: What SEND Families Need to Know

The government has announced significant reforms to the system supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England - changes that will directly affect thousands of families navigating Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

At Blue Badgers, we know just how overwhelming the SEND system can already feel. For many families, securing and maintaining an EHCP is a long, exhausting process. These new proposals could reshape that landscape over the next decade.

Here’s what we know so far — and what it could mean for you.

What Is Changing?

The government has confirmed several key reforms:

🔹 EHCPs to Be Reserved for the “Most Complex” Cases by 2035

By 2035, Education, Health and Care Plans will no longer be as widely issued as they are now. Instead, they will be reserved for children and young people with the most complex SEND needs.

This represents a major shift in how support is allocated. At present, EHCPs are used to legally guarantee provision for children whose needs cannot be met through standard school SEN support.

🔹 Current EHCPs Will Continue (For Now)

If your child already has an EHCP, it will remain in place until they move to their next educational stage — such as:

• Primary to secondary school





• Secondary school to sixth form or college

This offers some short-term reassurance for families currently relying on an EHCP.

🔹 Reassessments Begin in 2029

From 2029 onwards, children will be reassessed for EHCP eligibility when they transition to a new stage of education.

This means that at key transition points, eligibility could be reviewed under the new, more restrictive criteria.

Why Is This Happening?

The number of children and young people with EHCPs in England has risen sharply. There are currently 639,000 people up to age 25 with an EHCP, and this figure has more than doubled in the last decade.

The government says reform is needed to make the system sustainable. However, many families and advocacy groups are concerned about what this could mean for access to legally protected support.

What Could This Mean for Families?

While full details of the new criteria have not yet been published, several key concerns are emerging:

• Will children with moderate but significant needs lose access to legal protection?





• How will schools be funded to support children who no longer qualify for EHCPs?





• What safeguards will be in place to prevent children from falling through the gaps?





• How transparent and fair will reassessment processes be?

For many carers, EHCPs are not just paperwork - they are the mechanism that ensures therapy provision, specialist placements, 1:1 support, and appropriate adjustments. Without this backing, families may feel increasingly vulnerable.

What Should Parents and Carers Do Now?

While these changes will not fully come into effect until 2035, there are steps families can take:

• Keep all documentation up to date





• Ensure annual reviews are thorough and evidence-led





• Gather professional reports and independent assessments where appropriate





• Seek specialist SEND advice if approaching a transition year





• Stay informed as details emerge

Transition points (Year 6, Year 11, post-16 moves) are likely to become especially significant under the new system.

At Blue Badgers, we recognise the urgent need for improvement in the SEND system - families are already battling delays, underfunding, and inconsistent provision.

However, reform must not come at the expense of children’s rights.

We will continue to:

• Share clear, practical information





• Amplify the voices of disabled children and their carers





• Press for transparency around how “most complex needs” will be defined





• Advocate for fair reassessment processes

We Want to Hear From You

The SEND system can feel like a minefield — how do you feel about these proposed changes?
Are you approaching a transition stage?
What questions do you want answered?

💙 Blue Badgers

The government has announced significant reforms to the system supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England - changes that will directly affect thousands of families navigating Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

At Blue Badgers, we know just how overwhelming the SEND system can already feel. For many families, securing and maintaining an EHCP is a long, exhausting process. These new proposals could reshape that landscape over the next decade.

Here’s what we know so far — and what it could mean for you.

What Is Changing?

The government has confirmed several key reforms:

🔹 EHCPs to Be Reserved for the “Most Complex” Cases by 2035

By 2035, Education, Health and Care Plans will no longer be as widely issued as they are now. Instead, they will be reserved for children and young people with the most complex SEND needs.

This represents a major shift in how support is allocated. At present, EHCPs are used to legally guarantee provision for children whose needs cannot be met through standard school SEN support.

🔹 Current EHCPs Will Continue (For Now)

If your child already has an EHCP, it will remain in place until they move to their next educational stage — such as:

• Primary to secondary school





• Secondary school to sixth form or college

This offers some short-term reassurance for families currently relying on an EHCP.

🔹 Reassessments Begin in 2029

From 2029 onwards, children will be reassessed for EHCP eligibility when they transition to a new stage of education.

This means that at key transition points, eligibility could be reviewed under the new, more restrictive criteria.

Why Is This Happening?

The number of children and young people with EHCPs in England has risen sharply. There are currently 639,000 people up to age 25 with an EHCP, and this figure has more than doubled in the last decade.

The government says reform is needed to make the system sustainable. However, many families and advocacy groups are concerned about what this could mean for access to legally protected support.

What Could This Mean for Families?

While full details of the new criteria have not yet been published, several key concerns are emerging:

• Will children with moderate but significant needs lose access to legal protection?





• How will schools be funded to support children who no longer qualify for EHCPs?





• What safeguards will be in place to prevent children from falling through the gaps?





• How transparent and fair will reassessment processes be?

For many carers, EHCPs are not just paperwork - they are the mechanism that ensures therapy provision, specialist placements, 1:1 support, and appropriate adjustments. Without this backing, families may feel increasingly vulnerable.

What Should Parents and Carers Do Now?

While these changes will not fully come into effect until 2035, there are steps families can take:

• Keep all documentation up to date





• Ensure annual reviews are thorough and evidence-led





• Gather professional reports and independent assessments where appropriate





• Seek specialist SEND advice if approaching a transition year





• Stay informed as details emerge

Transition points (Year 6, Year 11, post-16 moves) are likely to become especially significant under the new system.

At Blue Badgers, we recognise the urgent need for improvement in the SEND system - families are already battling delays, underfunding, and inconsistent provision.

However, reform must not come at the expense of children’s rights.

We will continue to:

• Share clear, practical information





• Amplify the voices of disabled children and their carers





• Press for transparency around how “most complex needs” will be defined





• Advocate for fair reassessment processes

We Want to Hear From You

The SEND system can feel like a minefield — how do you feel about these proposed changes?
Are you approaching a transition stage?
What questions do you want answered?

💙 Blue Badgers

The government has announced significant reforms to the system supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England - changes that will directly affect thousands of families navigating Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

At Blue Badgers, we know just how overwhelming the SEND system can already feel. For many families, securing and maintaining an EHCP is a long, exhausting process. These new proposals could reshape that landscape over the next decade.

Here’s what we know so far — and what it could mean for you.

What Is Changing?

The government has confirmed several key reforms:

🔹 EHCPs to Be Reserved for the “Most Complex” Cases by 2035

By 2035, Education, Health and Care Plans will no longer be as widely issued as they are now. Instead, they will be reserved for children and young people with the most complex SEND needs.

This represents a major shift in how support is allocated. At present, EHCPs are used to legally guarantee provision for children whose needs cannot be met through standard school SEN support.

🔹 Current EHCPs Will Continue (For Now)

If your child already has an EHCP, it will remain in place until they move to their next educational stage — such as:

• Primary to secondary school





• Secondary school to sixth form or college

This offers some short-term reassurance for families currently relying on an EHCP.

🔹 Reassessments Begin in 2029

From 2029 onwards, children will be reassessed for EHCP eligibility when they transition to a new stage of education.

This means that at key transition points, eligibility could be reviewed under the new, more restrictive criteria.

Why Is This Happening?

The number of children and young people with EHCPs in England has risen sharply. There are currently 639,000 people up to age 25 with an EHCP, and this figure has more than doubled in the last decade.

The government says reform is needed to make the system sustainable. However, many families and advocacy groups are concerned about what this could mean for access to legally protected support.

What Could This Mean for Families?

While full details of the new criteria have not yet been published, several key concerns are emerging:

• Will children with moderate but significant needs lose access to legal protection?





• How will schools be funded to support children who no longer qualify for EHCPs?





• What safeguards will be in place to prevent children from falling through the gaps?





• How transparent and fair will reassessment processes be?

For many carers, EHCPs are not just paperwork - they are the mechanism that ensures therapy provision, specialist placements, 1:1 support, and appropriate adjustments. Without this backing, families may feel increasingly vulnerable.

What Should Parents and Carers Do Now?

While these changes will not fully come into effect until 2035, there are steps families can take:

• Keep all documentation up to date





• Ensure annual reviews are thorough and evidence-led





• Gather professional reports and independent assessments where appropriate





• Seek specialist SEND advice if approaching a transition year





• Stay informed as details emerge

Transition points (Year 6, Year 11, post-16 moves) are likely to become especially significant under the new system.

At Blue Badgers, we recognise the urgent need for improvement in the SEND system - families are already battling delays, underfunding, and inconsistent provision.

However, reform must not come at the expense of children’s rights.

We will continue to:

• Share clear, practical information





• Amplify the voices of disabled children and their carers





• Press for transparency around how “most complex needs” will be defined





• Advocate for fair reassessment processes

We Want to Hear From You

The SEND system can feel like a minefield — how do you feel about these proposed changes?
Are you approaching a transition stage?
What questions do you want answered?

💙 Blue Badgers