Latest Official .Gov SEND news

Education for All Bill announced In the King’s Speech 2026, published today, 10 June 2026, the government confirmed that a new Education for All Bill will be brought forward. It says the Bill will “raise standards in schools” and introduce generational reforms of the special educational needs system. What this means for SEND The Department for Education has said the changes are linked to the schools white paper Every Child Achieving and Thriving and the SEND reform plans. The aim is for children with SEND to receive support earlier and more consistently, wherever they go to school. The DfE says the new legislation will focus on: Individual Support Plans, known as ISPs, for children and young people with SEND. National Inclusion Standards, so support is meant to be more consistent. Reformed EHCP processes for children with the most complex needs. Specialist Provision Packages. Stronger oversight of Independent Special Schools. Consultation status The main SEND reform consultation, “SEND reform: putting children and young people first,” is now closed. It ran from 23 February 2026 to 18 May 2026. GOV.UK now says the Department for Education is analysing feedback, and the outcome will be published later. Latest SEND statistics The latest official school SEN statistics were published on 6 May 2026. They show that over 1.7 million pupils in England have special educational needs, an increase of 93,700 pupils since 2024. The percentage of pupils with an EHC plan rose to 5.3%, up from 4.8% in 2024. The percentage of pupils on SEN support rose to 14.2%, up from 13.6% in 2024. The most common primary need for pupils with an EHC plan is autistic spectrum disorder, while the most common primary need for pupils on SEN support is speech, language and communication needs.