The moment stays
A TA sees a breakthrough at lunch. She writes a story, taps a sticker, moves on. Twenty seconds. By the annual review, it's still there. Timestamped, attributed, ready.
"Every Child Achieving and Thriving" is the biggest change to SEND since 2014. The direction is right. The timeline is longer than the headlines suggest. Here's what matters.
Every child with identified SEND gets an Individual Support Plan. "Interactive, accessible and available in a digital format." No diagnosis required. 15-20% of pupils projected to need ISPs by 2030, up from 5.3% with EHCPs today. That's hundreds of records per school.
Schools must proactively plan inclusion provision, show how funding is used, and evidence it for Ofsted. Not a retrospective report. A forward-facing strategy. The question inspectors will ask: can you show this is working?
Consultation closes 18 May 2026. New assessments begin September 2029. Existing EHCPs transition 2030-2035. There's time. But the schools that start building the evidence now will be the ones ready when it arrives.
High-quality adaptive teaching as the baseline. Early identification. Accessible environments.
School creates a digital ISP. Small-group interventions. Managed within school resources. No diagnosis required.
ISP with multi-agency input. Access to new "Experts at Hand" specialist banks. No EHCP required.
EHCP retained alongside an ISP. Legally enforceable. Specialist provision package.
Source: "Every Child Achieving and Thriving" Schools White Paper, February 2026. Consultation closes 18 May 2026.