This page gives links to our the SEND and EOTAS proposals, and all our coverage on SEND politics from today, right back to 2011.
EOTAS consultation proposals
Live SEND-related Consultation Links:
- EOTAS Consultation main page
- EOTAS Consultation Document
- EOTAS Response page
- SEND reform: education otherwise than at school – what parents and carers of children and young people need to know
- BSL version
- Upfront funding for mainstream schools: creating a ‘local SEND inclusion formula
- All our EOTAS / SEND proposals posts
- Closes 18th September 23:59
Read our article explaining the consultation’s proposals:
Step-by-Step Proposals for EOTAS
This information is taken directly from page 27 of the Government’s EOTAS consultation document (linked above) Click the double arrows to reveal more details. We have added some clarifying words, but have not added any of our own views:
>> Step 1: LA DECIDES: Needs assessment
The local authority (LA) undertakes a needs assessment and determines eligibility for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and Specialist Provision Package (SPP).
>> Step 2: LA DECIDES: Eligibility for SPP
The LA identifies the most appropriate SPP(s) and, working with the family, names a school or further education setting. The child or young person is placed on a school roll.
Proposal 1: LA DECIDES that some or all of the SPP should be delivered through Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS).
Proposal 2: The NAMED SETTING DECIDES that some or all of the SPP should be delivered through EOTAS
>> Step 3: SETTING DECIDES: EOTAS provision arranged
The named setting arranges EOTAS provision from a local authority-approved provider that has met the new national standards.
>> Step 4: SETTING DECIDES: Regular touchpoints
The named setting works with families to determine if EOTAS arrangements continue to be best for the child or young person’s wellbeing and long-term outcomes. It considers whether a plan for transition back into a formal setting is appropriate.
>> Step 5: SETTING DECIDES: Touchpoint outcome
The named setting recommends whether EOTAS remains the best provision for the child or young person.
- If yes: arrangements continue with regular touchpoints.
- If no: the named setting sets out to the child and parent/carer what transition support would look like and begins to put it in place.
>> Step 6: FAMILY: If the family disagrees with the recommended change
An early EHCP review is requested. Families are a key partner in transition planning, and the child or young person is supported back to the named setting while the review takes place. The local authority then makes a decision — see outcomes below.
>> Outcome A (LA DECIDES)
The LA determines EOTAS remains appropriate and arrangements continue.
>> LA Outcome B (LA DECIDES)
The LA determines provision should be delivered through a school or further education setting, and a supported transition takes place.
>> End state
“The child or young person receives their SPP through the most appropriate provision arrangement, with progress monitored.”
What are Specialist Provision Packages?
This article explains what a Specialist Provision Package might be
If you need more help understanding the legal ramifications of these proposals, watch our recent webinar with four leading SEND lawyers
If your MP is holding SEND Engagement events: Use this form to give us your reaction.
What we need you to do
Watch Gill’s video that explains all
DfE EOTAS Consultation Events
The Department for Education has announced a range of online events about EOTAS. You can find out about and sign up for these here
The Schools’ White Paper: Documents
Below are all the links to the Schools White Paper documentation released so far:
- White Paper main page
- White Paper (PDF)
- SEND Consultation (PDF)
- SEND Consultation Gateway
- SNJ’s overview on the SEND consultation
- SEND Reform Webpage (HTML version)
- SEND Consultation Easy Read
- Further inclusive documentation here
- AI Early Identification Research Announcement
- Guidance for Different Audiences
- Experts at Hand: what parents of children and young people with SEND need to know
- Specialist Provision Packages
- SNJ’s article about Specialist Provision Packages
- Neurodivergence Taskforce Report
- SNJ’s article about the Neurodivergence Taskforce Report
- Equality Impact Assessment
- Child’s Rights Impact Assessment
- Background on Projections
- SEND Reform BSL Version
- White Paper BSL Version
- SEND Consultation events
- Direct email: SENDreform.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk
In August 2026, The DfE published a raft of documents “for parents” to further explain their plans:
- What’s happening now to support children and young people with SEND in mainstream education PDF, 146 KB, 4 pages
- What parents of children and young people with SEND need to know PDF, 213 KB, 9 pages
- What to expect from your child’s journey through education PDF, 202 KB, 6 pages
- What every parent can expect from our reforms PDF, 171 KB, 4 pages
- Information on SEND reform for parents and carers who have children with EHCPs PDF, 237 KB, 6 pages
- Information on SEND reform for parents and carers of children and young people in special schools PDF, 180 KB, 3 pages
- Information on SEND reform for parents and carers of children receiving SEND support in mainstream schools and colleges PDF, 220 KB, 5 pages
- Information on SEND reform for those leading and working in mainstream schools PDF, 216 KB, 4 pages
- Information on SEND reform for those working in early years settings PDF, 192 KB, 3 pages
- Information on SEND reform for leaders of special schools, AP and specialist post-16 institutions PDF, 196 KB, 3 pages
- Information on SEND reform for those working in post-16 settings PDF, 222 KB, 3 pages
Our Save Our Children’s Rights Campaign
In July 2025, Special Needs Jungle, along with IPSEA, launched a national campaign to raise awareness that the government was discussing cutting rights to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). A petition had been created by SNJ’s Rachel Filmer at the start of the year. Our campaign, Save Our Children’s Rights, pushed this petition to over 130,000 signatures, and a debate by MPs in Parliament. The debate was attended by over 90 MPs and the strength of feeling against cutting rights changed the narrative and sent the Department for Education into a tailspin. It resulted in the delay of the Schools White Paper, now expected in early 2025. The campaign continues.
- Read about the campaign
- Read about the SEND Petition debate
- Visit the Save Our Children’s Rights website
- Take part in the SOCR photo campaign
2024/25 SEND Inquiry by the Education Select Committee
Solving the SEND Crisis report
- Main Education Committee page for The Solving the SEND Crisis Inquiry (external)
- The Solving the SEND Inquiry report (external)
- Our coverage of the SEND Inquiry report:
- SEND Inquiry Report 1: Strengthen inclusion—but don’t dilute SEND legal entitlements the Education Committee tells the Government
- SEND Inquiry Report 2: Force the NHS to pay its fair share, plus fixing early years and post-16 educationby Rachel Filmer, Dr Sharon Smith and Tania Tirraoro
- SEND Inquiry report 3: How does the Education Committee want to fix SEND funding?
- Education Secretary delays Schools White Paper (after the SEND Debate)
- Our coverage of the delay
- Helen Hayes Letter to Bridget Phillipson (Education Sec) after delay to White Paper
- Our coverage of the above
- Bridget Phillipson’s letter back to Helen Hayes about what they’re doing in the interim
- Government response to Solving the SEND Crisis Inquiry report (December 2025) (PDF) and as a webpage
- Helen Hayes MP’s reply to the Government response
Our SEND Politics posts
- WEBINAR RECORDING! The implications for children’s legal rights to EHCPs and EOTAS of the Government’s SEND proposals
- Unison voices major concerns over SEND reform health plans for sick and disabled children out of school in the EOTAS consultation
- Top Tips for the EOTAS & EHCP consultation: Protect your child’s rights to statutory SEND support
- REGISTER NOW! WEBINAR on the Government’s plans to cut EHCP and EOTAS rights. With SNJ & SEND legal charity, SOS!SEN
- Dear Secretary of State for Education, Lucy Powell: an Open Letter from Special Needs Jungle and SEND legal charity SOS!SEN
- Why every child deserves Portage, wherever they’re born
- EOTAS Consultation: A further assault on children’s SEND rights with cost saving and reintegration to schools at its heart
- Let’s write the true narrative of the SEND reform proposals: We want your unfiltered-by-AI views
- The relentless march of SEND reform only hears views that fit the narrative
- SEND reforms and the forgotten children at risk of exclusion
- SEND 2026: Tracking a decade of rising need with earlier EHCPs and moves to specialist provision for secondary
- Using “Not Quite Experts” at Hand will be the only solution to staff the Government’s big new plan for school support
- Don’t stop making noise: Sign to save SEND Legal Rights! Here’s 3 easy actions for this half term
- Research: Inclusion for neurodivergent pupils needs lived-experience trainers and getting the wider school environment right
- Philippa Stobbs OBE: Reform plans must have a clear line of sight from children and young people with SEND to better outcomes.
Find older posts on SEND Politics here
SEND Improvement Plan 2022 (previous government)
The Government’s SEND Improvement Plan was published on 2 March 2023. Below are key links, including to Department for Education official publications. Scroll down to read our articles on the issue.
- The Government’s SEND Improvement Plan: SNJ’s initial overview
- SEND and alternative provision improvement plan
- SEND AP Roadmap
- SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan Video (YouTube)
- Find all posts about the SEND Review here
About the SEND Review
- The SEND Review was published on Tuesday 29th March 2022. The consultation closed on July 22nd
- There is a dedicated website with alternative versions, languages and formats here
- The Green Paper DISCUSSION document, split into six chapters, with 22 consultation questions.
- See a list of all SNJ’s posts on the SEND Review
- Alternative versions of the consultation document: Large print PDF version | Order a copy | Easy read version | British Sign Language (BSL) version | Guide for children and young people
- Can you help support our work?
2014 SEN reforms
- Find our articles about the 2014 reforms and the creation of the Children and Families Act here
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