Preparing for SEND reform: a practical guide to the Government’s White Paper

What are the ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ proposals?

Led by the Department for Education, these proposals outline long-term SEND reform, with an emphasis on:

A more inclusive system, with greater SEND student support in mainstream settings
Earlier identification of need and consistent intervention
Stronger collaboration between schools, trusts and local services
Continued emphasis on evidence-informed teaching and curriculum design
Clearer accountability for outcomes, including engagement, attendance and progress

Implementation happens across three overlapping phases: aligning to best practice from 2025/26, preparing for wider reforms from 2026/27, and full implementation from 2028/29.

Key SEND takeaways for schools and teachers

1. Inclusion becomes a whole-school responsibility

The proposals signal a move away from reliance on external provision, requiring schools to meet broader needs internally through:

Greater use of adaptive teaching strategies
More routine personalisation of learning
Increased flexibility in resource design and delivery

2. Increased expectations around SEND planning and provision

Schools must demonstrate clearer, more structured approaches to SEND support, including:

Digital Individual Support Plans (ISPs) mapping learning barriers, interventions and outcomes — replacing SEN Support without requiring an Education, Health and Care Plan
Defined provision levels (Targeted, Targeted Plus and Specialist) to create consistent, graded responses to need
More consistent translation of EHCPs into classroom strategies

3. A stronger focus on engagement, belonging and attendance

Alongside attainment, there is growing emphasis on a student’s experience of school. By 2029, schools will monitor:

Student engagement
Sense of belonging
Attendance and behaviour

A new Pupil Engagement Framework provides measurable indicators for tracking and improvement.

4. Greater support for inclusion, alongside increased accountability

The proposals include investment in SEND-specific training, school improvement programmes such as RISE, and trust and school-group collaboration. At the same time, expectations increase. Schools must:

Publish an Inclusion Strategy
Demonstrate that resources are used to support SEND students
Evidence the impact of provision more clearly

What this means in practice

In simple terms:

You will need to adapt teaching more frequently
Personalisation will need to happen at scale
SEND provision will need to be clearly evidenced
All of this will need to sit within existing time constraints

For many teachers, this represents a significant shift in daily teaching, planning and support.

How Teachmate supports inclusive teaching

Teachmate’s 20+ SEND tools — developed collaboratively with teachers, SENCOs and specialists — focus on practical classroom implementation without adding process, instead enabling efficient adaptive teaching, personalised learning and SEND provision.

Supporting adaptive teaching and resource development

Differentiate Text — rapidly simplify or restructure content for specific learner needs
Worksheet Adaptor — adjust resources for level, difficulty or SEND need, including scaffolding, simplified language or reduced cognitive load
Step-by-Step Instructions — support clarity and independence through structured task breakdowns

Planning for inclusive classrooms

SEND Lesson Planner — design multi-pathway lessons that plan for a broader range of need within a single lesson
Sensory Activities and EAL Vocab Mat — additional routes into the curriculum, supporting engagement and accessibility

Supporting communication, behaviour and engagement

Clear Communicator — simplify instructions and explanations
Social Awareness Stories — prepare students for new experiences and behaviour expectations
Student Checklists — support routine, independence and task completion

Strengthening SEND provision and documentation

EHCP Outcome Generator — translate EHCP information into clear, actionable outcomes
IEP Writer, IDP Writer and Pupil Passport — create structured, consistent support plans
SMART Targets — define measurable next steps for student progress

Prepare now for SEND reform

Schools that are already embedding adaptive teaching, structured SEND provision and efficient planning will be best placed to respond to these changes. The shift is already underway; ensuring sustainable practice is the challenge now.