DfE Consultations
The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a national consultation on education otherwise than at school ( EOTAS) – an important provision for children and young people with SEND whose needs cannot be appropriately met in a school or college setting.
The consultation is seeking views on how EOTAS should be identified, managed and quality assured. Families, young people, professionals and organisations are all encouraged to take part.
Your voice matters. If you have experience of EOTAS, this is your opportunity to help shape how it is delivered in the future.
The Department for Education has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the £6,000 High Needs Threshold.
The proposals explore changing how SEND funding is distributed between mainstream schools and local authorities. The aim is to provide mainstream schools and academies with a greater share of SEND funding upfront, enabling support to be put in place earlier without relying as heavily on top-up funding from the high needs budget.
Local authorities would be able to choose whether to introduce this approach from 2027/28, ahead of wider national funding reforms planned for 2029/30.
Your voice matters. If you have experience of having a child in a mainstream school, please take this opportunity to share your views
Both consultations close 18th September 2026
July 2026