The UK government’s white paper “Every child achieving and thriving”, published by the Department for Education this week, sets out a comprehensive vision and reform plan for England’s schools system, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at its heart. It aims to create one inclusive education system where every child, regardless of background or needs, receives high standards, early evidence-based support, and opportunities to thrive locally, without unnecessary battles or postcode lotteries; aims that align closely with our long-standing mission here at Challengers.
Gen Dearman, Challengers’ CEO, was invited to speak on BBC Radio Surrey earlier this week to discuss what the white paper means for children with SEND and their parents:
“For the last 47 years our charity has been working towards a vision where all children and young people can play together, freely. We therefore welcome the government’s vision of a society where disabled children and their families get the support they need without having to fight for it, and we welcome the extra, much needed investment, to create a more inclusive educational journey for all children.”
“The investment could transform schools’ ability to allow more children to have these ordinary experiences” – Gen Dearman
For the full interview with Gen Dearman on BBC Radio Surrey, you can listen here or listen via the video below.
Below is a summary of some of the major SEND reforms and proposals contained within the white paper, which you can read in full here;
Shift to mainstream inclusion: Equip schools to identify and support needs early (at first signs), with adaptive teaching, small-group interventions, and no need for formal diagnosis/delays. Strengthen laws for evidence-based early mainstream support.
Individual Support Plans (ISPs): Replace fragmented records; statutory in settings; focus on barriers/outcomes; digital for ease.
EHCPs: Retained for most complex cases needing specialist packages; expected to rise initially then stabilise by 2035 as mainstream improves (reserved more for severe/long-term needs). Transitions phased: assessments at phase ends from September 2029; full shift by September 2030; existing EHCPs protected until then.
Early intervention: Via Best Start Family Hubs (SEND practitioners, integrated health/education); Inclusive Early Years Fund; partnerships for under-5s fast-tracking.
Specialist and outreach support: Partnerships between mainstream/special schools (outreach, short-term placements, time-limited Inclusion Bases in most secondaries); “Experts at Hand” for on-demand specialists.
Workforce and training: Largest-ever SEND training (£200m+ over 3 years from Sept 2026, mandatory for all staff); updated initial teacher training (adaptive/SEND focus from Sept 2025); SENCOs more strategic; growth in educational psychologists/therapists (£40m+).
Accountability and standards: Update SEND Code of Practice (“support first,” development-focused areas like executive function/sensory/social); National Inclusion Standards (by 2028); Ofsted grades inclusion; new dashboards to prevent off-rolling/exclusions linked to unmet SEND; Children’s Commissioner oversight.