28/02/2026
Some great help here and lots of questions answered
Gloucestershire Parent FAQ
SEND Reform Practical Questions
1. Will my child lose their EHCP?
No.
No EHCP will be removed before at least September 2030.
If your child has an EHCP in 2029, they can:
Keep it until the end of their education phase, or
Choose to move to the new system.
2. Should I rush to apply for an EHCP before 2029?
Not necessarily, but do not delay if your child needs one now.
The current legal system still applies.Future reforms should not stop you accessing support today.
3. What is an Individual Support Plan (ISP)?
An ISP will be a digital document used in mainstream schools to record:
Your child’s barriers to learning.
Provision being delivered.
Reasonable adjustments.
Agreed outcomes.
It is not currently a replacement for an EHCP, but over time it may become the main support mechanism for many children.
4. Is an ISP legally enforceable like an EHCP?
Not in the same way.
An EHCP is a statutory plan enforceable via Tribunal.
An ISP will sit within school accountability systems and Ofsted inspection, but does not carry the same legal redress route.
This is a key structural difference.
5. Will it become harder to get an EHCP?
From 2029 onwards, likely yes.
Only children who meet nationally defined Specialist Provision Packages will qualify.
The threshold is expected to focus on “most complex needs.”
Details are not yet fully defined.
6. What are Inclusion Bases?
Inclusion Bases are specialist units inside mainstream schools.
They aim to:
Provide smaller, calmer spaces.
Offer specialist support.
Allow children to remain in local schools.
Their quality will depend entirely on staffing, ethos, and trauma-informed practice.
7. Will my child be forced out of special school?
No.
If your child is in special school in September 2029, they can remain until the end of their education.
8. What if mainstream isn’t working now?
Reform does not remove your current rights.
If your child is:
Persistently dysregulated,
Being excluded,
Masking to the point of burnout,
Or unable to attend,
You can still pursue statutory assessment under current law.
9. Will Gloucestershire get more funding?
Yes, nationally funding is increasing.
But how funding is allocated locally matters.
We will be monitoring:
How GCC distributes funds.
Workforce recruitment.
Whether money reaches classrooms.
Whether Inclusion Bases are properly resourced.
10. What about racial disparities?
We know:
SEN identification varies by ethnicity.
Exclusion rates disproportionately affect racialised children.
Neurodivergent girls and children of colour are under-identified.
We will be pushing for:
Equity monitoring.
Anti-racist implementation.
Culturally competent early identification.
11. What should I be doing as a parent right now?
Keep records.
Attend reviews.
Request reasonable adjustments in writing.
Engage early with concerns.
Seek advice before agreeing to any changes.
Stay informed, but avoid panic.
12. Where can I get support in Gloucestershire?
ND Hub guidance and updates.
SENDIASS Gloucestershire.
IPSEA (legal advice).
Local parent networks (Parent Carer Alliance)
School SENCO.
We will publish further updates as legislation progresses.
