Gloucestershire County Council has welcomed the Government’s announcement of significant new investment to strengthen support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), saying the reforms build on strong foundations already established in the county.
The Government has confirmed that every child with additional needs will benefit from more tailored support, backed by £4 billion in national funding aimed at making schools more inclusive and improving outcomes for pupils with SEND. Mainstream schools are set to receive £1.6 billion over three years to enhance inclusive practice, while a further £1.8 billion will increase access to specialist and external support services.
Under the proposed reforms, children’s needs will be met through a layered system of support. Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) will be reserved for those with the most complex needs, while pupils with less complex requirements will receive Individual Support Plans (ISPs) developed by their schools. These plans will be guided by new national inclusion standards and a statutory duty requiring schools to clearly outline their approach to inclusion.
The proposals are detailed in the Government’s Every Child Achieving and Thriving white paper and associated SEND consultation, with changes expected to come into effect from 2029.
Gloucestershire enters this next phase of reform from what council leaders describe as a position of strength. The county already operates a well-established Graduated Pathway, alongside a SEND & Education Inclusion Strategy extended to September 2026 to align with national changes. A multi-agency SEND & Inclusion Local Area Partnership (SILAP) is also in place, supported by active governance and a robust improvement plan.
Council leaders say the national reforms closely mirror Gloucestershire’s existing direction of travel, with partnership-based approaches already embedded locally now becoming part of national policy.
Cllr Linda Cohen, cabinet member for education and skills, said: “We welcome these reforms and the additional funding that will strengthen the support available to families and schools. While this will not create a perfect system it is an important step toward ensuring more children can receive the specialist help they need in their local school.
“Gloucestershire is already strongly aligned with the national direction of SEND reform, with established systems and partnerships that reflect the principles being taken forward. These changes will help build on the ambitious work we are already doing to improve support for children and young people across the county.
“A critically important factor will be Gloucestershire’s funding settlement to deliver these reforms. Whilst we are positive about the range of measures set out, Gloucestershire has historically been poorly funded and we are looking to Government to redress this inequity in order to ensure that our children and young people can continue to access the support they need.
“Our priority now will be talking with our schools, early years settings and most importantly our families. We will work closely with Gloucestershire’s Parent Carer Forum to understand their views and what the reforms mean in practice. We will be sharing our feedback with Government, and I would encourage families to do the same.
“Our shared ambition remains clear: to ensure every child and young person with SEND receives timely, tailored support, and to do everything within our power, within the resources available, to make these reforms work for Gloucestershire’s families.”
The council has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with children, families, schools and partners as the reforms progress, ensuring Gloucestershire remains at the forefront of inclusive education provision.