White papers are policy documents produced by the Government that set out their proposals for future legislation.

In February 2026, the Government published the Schools White Paper, “Every child achieving and thriving – GOV.UK”

Together with this, the Department for Education published a SEND Reform consultation that closes on the 18th of May 2026. You can access the consultation here: “SEND reform: putting children and young people first – GOV.UK”

Remember: Government White Papers are proposals for future reforms. The White Paper has set out ideas and directions, but it is not a change to the law itself. Any changes to Special Educational Needs (SEN) support in the country will take time, consultation, and further legislation before they could be implemented. This will take a long time.

Families, individuals, charities and professionals can all respond and influence what happens next and we encourage everyone to do so.

The National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) shared with us a document that explains the various accompanying documents that sit alongside the to the Schools White Paper and the SEND Reform. You can access the guide here.

Below are some articles and events on our website that relate to the Government White Papers: