Health partners, schools, young people, parents and carers all met in a virtual roundtable with the Local Area SEND Partnership Leaders on Monday 16 March.

They were invited along to this roundtable briefing to learn more about the SEND reforms being made to the SEND system as set out in the Government’s Schools White Paper published on 23 February 2026.

The event was chaired by Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Caroline Newton and attended by Leader of the Council, Cllr David Leaf.

The reforms will see the existing system overhauled, with the planned changes outlined below:

• this will include a universal offer of support in every school and three further levels of support: Targeted, Targeted Plus and Specialist
• EHCPs will remain in place for children who need more support. Meanwhile, a national digital EHCP will be introduced
• children currently in Year 2 or below will have their EHCP reassessed when they move to secondary school- everyone else will keep their current EHCP until at least 16
• every school, college and nursery will be expected to train their staff to adapt their teaching for children with SEND. Additional funding will be available
• children in schools who need support from specialists ( such as OT’s SALT’s and EP’s) will be supported via a new programme called “ Experts at Hand”
• every secondary school with have an inclusion base - a dedicated space in a mainstream school that can offer specialist teaching and targeted support

Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Newton, said: 

Leaders across the Local Area Partnership are very keen to ensure that the Local Area SEND Reform Plan and consultation response are co-produced with all partners. 

We met on Monday 16 March with representative from parents, young people, health providers, and school representatives to gain an understanding  about their initial reactions to the Schools White Paper and SEND Reforms and also to hear their opinions about how the Local Area Partnership can further engage with them to ensure they are able to co-produce the Local Area SEND reform Plan and shape the Local Area Partnerships consultation response.

We will continue to work our partners, parents and carers to ensure the best outcome for Bexley’s children and young people.”

As part of these system-wide reforms, Local Areas are required to develop a “Local Area Partnership SEND Reform Plan”, which must be submitted to the DfE by 19 June 2026. Additionally, a formal consultation was launched by the government on 23 February  and will conclude on 18 May 2026.

We want to hear from  as many parent carers, young people, teachers and other professionals as possible on how you feel Bexley is placed to respond to the reforms.

Please fill out our form on our website.