One week left to have your say on the government’s proposed SEND reforms
3 mins read
Tuesday 12 May 2026
This advice applies in England only.
There is one week left for families to respond to the government’s schools white paper consultation on proposed SEND reforms in England.
The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 18 May 2026.
Remember: The white paper recommendations on these two areas are just proposals at this stage. Your child’s legal rights to support remain in place.
We’ve been listening to parent carers
Since the white paper was published, many parent carers have told us they are worried about the proposals. And many are unsure if their voices are being heard.
Contact has been working directly with families across England to make sure lived experiences are reflected in the national debate. Over the past few months, we have gathered evidence from a number of sources to inform our consultation response, including:
- Eight parent carer focus groups involving 49 parents of children and young people with a wide range of SEND needs.
- Insights from our national helpline and online advice services alongside our ongoing conversations with families navigating the current SEND system every day.
- A survey for parent carers about support for disabled children aged 0-5 (the early years).
- Meetings and discussions with ministers, Department for Education policy teams, select committees and SEND working groups.
And we will ensure your voices are heard
Contact’s CEO, Anna Bird, said:
“We know many parent carers are exhausted by the challenges of navigating the SEND system and may not have the time or energy to respond to the consultation themselves. While there is still time to take part, we want families to know that we hear your concerns loudly and clearly. We are committed to ensuring your voices are represented.
“Contact will continue to make sure decision-makers understand the day-to-day realities parent carers face. This includes serious concerns that have been raised consistently about the possible loss of legal protections currently provided through education, health and care (EHC) plans; reduced access to tribunals; and fears that the proposed reforms could weaken children’s rights rather than strengthen support.
“Parent carer forums and the NNPCF have also been working tirelessly to represent parents’ voices during this consultation. If you’ve been involved in your forum in any way, your views will have been heard.”
How to respond
There is still time to take part in the consultation online.
Your lived experience is valuable evidence. Even a short response can help highlight issues and improve services for children and young people with SEND.
And if you feel the consultation is missing questions about something important to you, you can still submit your views wherever feels most appropriate, explaining why it is important to you and your thoughts and concerns.