Change Programme Manchester Information Hub

The Change Programme is a national project that aims to test and improve some of the policy changes that were proposed in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan that was published in March 2023.

The government’s proposed reforms to the SEND and AP system are categorised into four reform areas:

• Enablers: These reforms are focused on establishing the foundations to  enable the SEND and AP system to work.
• Ordinarily Available Provision: These reforms are focused on ensuring and extending access to provision which should be ordinarily available, so that needs are identified and support is provided as early as possible.
• Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP): We want these reforms to improve the quality of EHCPs, improve the experience of getting an EHCP and improve outcomes for children and young people with EHCPs.
• Standards and Commissioning: These reforms focus on making structural changes to the system and setting out national standards.

You can find out more about each of the reform areas by clicking on the relevant boxes below.

The reforms are being tested by Change Programme Partnerships (CPP) in nine regions of England, including the North West partnership that is being led by Manchester and also includes Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford.

How will this affect you and your child?

It is important to remember that the Change Programme does not change any statutory rights of child, young person, parent or carer and that the reforms are based on current legislation. There have been no changes to the law or changes to decisions about individual children and young people.

Some of the changes that you might notice may include:

• A different EHCP template : The proposed national template is designed to raise the quality of EHCPs. In Manchester, this new template will only be used in a proportion of new EHCP requests and parents/carers will be given a chance to opt-in to this upon discussion with the EHCP team.
• The use of “Advisory Tailored Lists” in the draft EHCP : This means that your draft plan will include a list of schools or other settings that are likely to be suitable to meet your child’s Special Educational Needs. The list is purely advisory and your right to express a preference for a setting is not affected. In Manchester, the Advisory Tailored Lists will only be offered in a proportion of new draft EHCPs. Parents/carers will be given a chance to opt-in to this upon discussion with the EHCP team.
• More information and encouragement to access mediation when you don’t agree with a decision related to your child’s EHCP : The government wants local areas to consistently provide families with access to high quality support to resolve disputes earlier and provide a more positive route for families pursuing their complaint. This does not change the legal rights of parents to challenge decisions made by local authorities.

We will share with you any other potential changes that might affect you directly, which you will find in the news section below.

How can you get involved?

Your voice is important in influencing the reforms that we are currently testing. Together, we can help shape the best possible version of the national SEND and AP system that our children, young people and families so greatly deserve.

If you notice any of the above changes happening and want to send us feedback, please do contact us by email or talk to us at one of the SEND Local Offer Drop-ins.

We will share other opportunities for parents and carers to get involved, as and when they come. Please follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram) and subscribe to the SEND Local Offer newsletter to keep updated with what’s happening related to the Change Programme and other SEND matters.

More Information About the Change Programme

Please explore the different sections below to learn more about the Change Programme, including the latest news and opportunities to get involved.