Schools White Paper and SEND Reforms
What the Proposed SEND Reforms Could Mean for Families
The Government has now published its Schools White Paper, setting out proposals for reform across education — including significant changes relating to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
At South Glos Parent Carers (SGPC), we know many families have been waiting for clarity about what SEND reform might look like in practice and what this could mean for their children and young people. We also recognise that change can bring uncertainty and questions.
What Happens Next?
We are now in a 12-week consultation period.
The NNPCF will be engaging with Parent Carer Forums across England to gather feedback and collate a national response representing the collective voice of parent carers.
SGPC will:
Review the detail of the White Paper carefully.
Share updates as further clarification emerges.
Provide opportunities for local families to share their views.
Feed South Gloucestershire parent carer experiences into the national conversation via the NNPCF
How Can Families Stay Informed?
We will continue to update families as more detail becomes available through our social media, website and members email list:
You can also read the Government’s published White Paper here:
Details of the SEND reform and consultation
At SGPC, our role remains the same: to represent the lived experience of parent carers in South Gloucestershire and to ensure that your voices are heard locally and nationally.
We know that system change must improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. We will work alongside the NNPCF and partners to ensure that reforms lead to positive, meaningful and sustainable change for families.
You are not alone
We recognise that change can bring uncertainty and questions. You are not alone, our drop-in support sessions and online email support are here for you.
See details of all our support session opening hours here
Who are the NNPCF?
The National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) is the independent national voice for Parent Carer Forums across the nine Department for Education (DfE) regions in England.
Established in 2011, the NNPCF brings together 153 local Parent Carer Forums, including SGPC. The NNPCF works directly with the Department for Education, NHS England and other national partners to represent the lived experience of parent carers in shaping policy and reform.
The NNPCF has been engaging with senior civil servants, Ministers and national stakeholders throughout the development of these proposals and will now be gathering feedback from local forums to inform a collective national response.
February 2026