The government published a school’s white paper and a linked press release on 23 February 2026 that sets out a major package of reforms and funding for special educational needs and disabilities.
The plan puts £4 billion over three years into reshaping how SEND support is delivered so mainstream schools can meet most children’s needs without families having to fight for help.
The package includes two headline funds. One is an Inclusive Mainstream Fund worth £1.6 billion over three years to give early years settings, schools, and colleges money for targeted interventions such as small group language support and adaptive teaching approaches.
The other is an Experts at Hand service funded with £1.8 billion over three years to create local banks of specialists, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and more, that schools can draw on even when children do not have an EHCP.
The white paper also backs a major capital and place expansion. The government will deliver 60,000 new specialist places over time and a £3.7 billion investment to establish inclusion bases across schools so that more children can remain in local mainstream settings.
Officials say the reforms include a record increase in high needs funding of £3.5 billion in 2028–29 on top of the Autumn Budget 2025 provision.
Training and local delivery are central to the plan. The government will fund the biggest ever SEND training offer for teachers with a £200 million package, and requires all teachers to get basic training to support children with additional needs.
There is also £200 million ringfenced so every family hub can offer SEND outreach and a further £200 million to help local authorities transform how they operate while keeping current services running.
The white paper frames the reforms as a move away from a single one-size-fits-all approach. The language used in the press release stresses early identification and support, aiming to reduce the late, adversarial route many parents currently face when seeking help for their child.
The officials argue that routinely available specialists and better-trained teachers will reduce the need for formal EHCPs for children whose needs can be met in mainstream settings, while still protecting statutory rights for the most complex cases.
Political leaders gave public backing to the measures in the release. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said getting the right support should not be a battle and that the aim is to tailor help available on every doorstep.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the reforms as a watershed moment and framed the funding as a major milestone in widening opportunities for children and young people with SEND.
Reaction from unions and campaigners was immediate. Teaching unions welcomed the focus on inclusion but warned the funding may not be enough to meet demand, pointing to ongoing staff shortages and long waits for specialist services.
Parent groups said the direction is the right one, but many flagged concerns about delivery, the tight timescale, and the need for clear local plans and accountability for councils and integrated care boards.
Practically, the reforms aim to change everyday school life. A typical secondary school, officials say, will receive the equivalent of roughly 160 additional days of specialist time each year once the Experts at Hand model is rolled out.
Special and alternative provision schools will take on stronger roles in training, short-term placements, and direct interventions to support mainstream colleagues.
What happens next is implementation at scale. Local authorities will need to commission the Experts at Hand pools, adjust resource allocations, and work with health partners to deliver on therapy and specialist staffing.
Ministers will also have to show early wins in attendance, reduced EHCP battles, and improved outcomes for disadvantaged pupils if confidence is to be rebuilt quickly.
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