SEND Reform – Clarity, Consistency, and Better Access for Every Learner

The New Schools Bill – formally known as the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – is set to reshape how Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision is delivered across England.

SEND provision has long been complicated by postcode lotteries, delayed EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plans ) decisions, and limited specialist support – only half of new EHCPs were issued on time last year. In 2025, the government introduced bold reforms to reduce this friction, and the reliance on private specialist schools – to prioritising state provision, offering pupils with SEND a faster, fairer path to the help they deserve.

These changes are designed not just for schools, but for families who’ve too often felt lost in the system. Schools will see more structured planning, less bureaucracy, and greater support for collaboration across settings.

Headline SEND Reforms:

• Establishment of a National Body for SEND – A proposed role to coordinate SEND provision nationally, support delivery for children with very high needs, and advise on funding based on need.

• National SEND Standards Framework – Establishes consistent expectations for all local authorities and schools.

• EHCP Digitisation – Moves assessments, reviews, and updates online – cutting wait times and admin burden.

• £2.6 Billion Investment – Expands specialist provision, workforce training, and assistive tech adoption.

What This Means for Schools:

• Clearer triage pathways and decision-making timelines.
• Reduced paperwork and improved data sharing with multi-agency teams.
• More opportunities to innovate – with accessible tech and regional training hubs.

Impact on Families and Pupils:

• Faster, more consistent access to support, regardless of geography.
• Easier tracking of EHCPs and more transparent communication with school staff.
• Earlier identification of needs and better continuity across transitions.

Find out more information here: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/the-childrens-wellbeing-bill-what-parents-need-to-know/

Top Tips for Schools:

• Update EHCP systems and train staff in digital workflows.
• Review local partnerships – ensure clarity on referral pathways and co-funded support options.
• Elevate pupil voice – make sure children are active participants in their own support journey.
• Schools will need to stay agile and informed as reforms unfolds
• Emphasis will be placed on inclusive practices, reasonable adjustments, and collaboration with local authorities.
• The proposed National Body could offer more consistent guidance and funding mechanisms.

SEND reform is a long-overdue recalibration. It’s a commitment to clarity… for schools, for students, and for families. And it’s a vital foundation for delivering education that is inclusive, responsive, and fair.

You can read the previous blog in our New School Bill Reform series here ➡️Relationships-safety-and-trust-RSHE

Schools Mutual Services shares a commitment to fairness, to community, and to doing things right. Choosing SMS as a partner frees up school leaders to focus on compliance to the New Schools Bill, while assisting schools to offer competitive supply teaching rates, and ensuring budgets are protected as much as possible, and used… as opposed to profits making their way into shareholder pockets.

If your school hasn’t yet had the conversation with SMS, now’s the time.

You can contact us here ➡️CONTACT FORM

With regional offices in Newcastle, Oxford, and Nottingham, SMS works with schools across the whole of the North East, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicester, Oxfordshire and Swindon. Each office is embedded within its local education community, working in partnership with school trusts, teaching alliances such as OTSA, and local authorities to deliver tailored supply staffing support across primary and secondary education, whether that is day-to-day supply teaching or long-term placements. From multi academy trusts to community primary and special schools, SMS is helping educational establishments navigate financial pressures with a smarter, more sustainable solution for supply teachers and support staff, that puts pupil outcomes first.

North East Hub

Portland House, Newcastle, NE1 8AL
📞 0191 933 8300
✉️ info@schoolsmutualservices.co.uk

South East Hub

Podium Sandford Gate, Littlemore, Oxford OX4 6LB
📞 01865 597 771
✉️ oxford@schoolsmutualservices.co.uk

East Midlands Hub

View previous blogs in our New Schools Bill series:

Navigating the New Schools Bill: What 2025’s Reforms Mean for Schools and Pupils

Wellbeing in Schools – From Breakfast to Emotional Support

Relationships, Safety, and Trust in Schools – A New Era for RSHE