The UK government has announced a landmark £4 billion investment and reform package for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in England, detailed in the White Paper "Every Child Achieving and Thriving" published on February 23, 2026.
This funding aims to transition the system toward a "mainstream-first" approach, providing support earlier and reducing reliance on formal Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Key Funding and Allocation Breakdown
Inclusive Mainstream Fund (£1.6 billion): Allocated over three years directly to schools, early years settings, and colleges to fund targeted interventions (e.g., small-group language work) without requiring an EHCP.
- "Experts at Hand" Service (£1.8 billion): A new service providing every local area with access to a bank of specialists, including speech and language therapists and educational psychologists.
- Specialist Places (£3.7 billion): Long-term capital investment to create 60,000 new specialist places, with many located within mainstream schools to support inclusive learning.
- Teacher Training (£200 million): Specifically for SEND-focused professional development to help staff implement adaptive teaching styles.
Major System Changes
Local Authority Debt Relief: The government will pay off 90% of the SEND deficits accumulated by local councils, an estimated £5 billion bailout to stabilize the system.
- Inclusion Bases: Every secondary school is expected to establish a dedicated "inclusion base" to provide a safe space for targeted support away from busy classrooms.
- New Support Plans: Introduction of legally-binding Individual Support Plans (ISPs), which will be managed by schools to provide faster legal protection for children than current EHCP processes.
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