Funding, Transitions and Alternative Provision
The Government has published proposals to reform the SEND system. These proposals are part of the wider Schools White Paper and related SEND reforms. Parent Carers are being asked to respond to 39 specific questions about the SEND reform.
As parent carers ourselves we know how difficult it can be finding the time to read such a large amount of information and respond to a long consultation. We’re here to help. Each week we will focus on an aspect proposed changes, and ask you to share your views in series of short, bite-size surveys making it quick and easy to share what matters most to you.
What is being proposed?
The Government proposals aim to ensure that children and young people can have their needs met, and support put in place, by using National Inclusion Standards, the tiers of support and the tools that will be provided as part of this without needing an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), unless needs are considered more complex and require specialist provision. There is a focus on improving inclusion across all stages of education - from early years through to further and higher education.
Funding:
How is this being funded:
£1.6 billion is proposed for a new Inclusive Mainstream Fund over the next three years, aimed at supporting schools to meet needs earlier and more effectively.
£3.7 billion is planned to be invested by 2030 to:
Create additional places in Inclusion Bases within mainstream schools
Improve accessibility of school buildings
Increase the number of special school places
An additional £200 million is proposed to increase capacity in specialist services, including educational psychologists and multi-agency support.
What might this mean for families:
These proposals place greater responsibility on mainstream settings to identify needs and put support in place across a range of levels (often described as Universal, Targeted tiers and Specialist support).
The intention is that children and young people could access support more quickly, without waiting for formal assessments or EHCP’s. This may include increased access to specialist advice within mainstream settings and more collaboration between schools, including shared resources and funding.
The development of Inclusion Bases in mainstream schools may increase local support options. There is also a focus on expanding the specialist workforce and strengthening multi-agency working.
Transitions:
Transitions between education stages (such as early years to school, or school to post-16) are expected to become more consistent and better planned. The introduction of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) [link to previous post] is intended to ensure that information about a child or young person’s needs and support moves with them between settings.
There is also a focus on improving pathways into adulthood, including:
Supported internships
Apprenticeships
Links to further and higher education
The aim is to support preparation for employment, independent living and adult life.
Alternative Provision:
Special schools, alternative provision (AP), and specialist post-16 settings are expected to play a stronger outreach role, supporting mainstream schools to meet needs earlier.
This will come from a three-tiered model of support:
Support into mainstream schools for specialist teachers and leaders in AP schools that helps put in preventative support. This is part of the government focus to reduce children going to AP and the amount of time they spend within this provision. The government want to strengthen accountability with pupils remaining on a school roll, and local authorities becoming responsible for quality assuring non-school alternative provision in light of the new national standards.
There will be more emphasis on AP settings to have:
Time limited placements so pupils have a shorter time in an AP school or special school for social and emotional special educational needs where their needs are assessed and addressed, therefore enabling their return to their mainstream school.
Longer term placements, where a child has been assessed as needing one of the Specialist Provision Packages that an AP school offers. These placements focus on supporting pupils into a more suited educational placement, where they can be more successfully prepared for gaining appropriate post-16 provision.
What we don’t yet know:
How mainstream settings will be held accountable for how inclusion funding is used
The full detail of how outreach from specialist settings will work in practice
What assessment of needs will take place before transitions, including phased transitions to ensure needs are appropriately identified and supported
How decisions will be made about time-limited placements in Alternative Provision
How consistently support will be delivered across different settings
How the proposed “packages of support” will meet the wide range of needs across all specified ages
How Inclusion Bases will operate in practice, including how much time children and young people may spend in them
How curriculum access (including GCSE subjects) will be supported for pupils accessing Inclusion Bases
It is important to remember that these proposals are still being consulted on, and the detail of how they would work in practice if they come into law are still being developed. It is important that you have your say and respond to the consultation. The link to our Bitesize survey is below
SGPC Bitesize Survey - 5 of 8
This week we are asking for your thoughts on the plans for funding the proposed changes, transitions between settings and the proposals for alternative provision.
Bite Size Survey: Funding, Transitions and Alternative Provision
Each survey only takes a few minutes, but your voice can make a real difference. Ensure that the perspectives of families in our community are heard.
Focused news and accompanying bite-sized surveys will be shared each week week until the 29th April. All surveys will remain open till midnight on Sunday 3rd May
Check out the SGPC updates page to see them all
We are now in a 12-week consultation period.
There are two ways that you can have your say:
Through the Government Consultation Survey on SEND reform - Closing Date 11:59pm 18 May 2026,
Through South Glos Parent Carer Forum’s bite size surveys. - Closing Date 11:59pm 3 May
If possible, we would always recommend that you complete both feedback options.
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.
We will continue to update families as more detail becomes available through our social media, website and members email list:
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
April 2026