Portsmouth council cautiously optimistic about new SEND reforms

Liberal Democrat councillor Nick Dorrington, the cabinet member for children, families and education, responded to the government’s plans for supporting pupils with SEND.

A key change is limiting the use of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). These legally binding documents detail the support a child with SEND needs from schools, health, and social care.

The current system is criticised for long waits, complex assessments, and a sharp rise in the number of EHCPs, which has led to high spending and deficits for many councils, including Portsmouth, which has a £4.5m budget gap.

The new system, proposed by the Labour government in February, would replace many EHCPs with Individual Support Plans (ISPs), which would outline support but lack the strong legal protection of an EHCP, which would be reserved for the most complex needs.

The reforms also focus on providing more support in mainstream schools through increased specialist staff, training, and inclusion units.

The proposed ISPs aim to allow support to start earlier in mainstream schools without requiring the lengthy EHCP assessment process. Schools would be able to identify needs sooner and provide structured help such as specialist teaching, therapies, or targeted support.

Cllr Dorrington said there’s “much needed change” in the reforms that will both help and challenge the education sector.

He said the current system has “different levels” of SEND that “for too long” have been “clumped together as one” so that mild and severe cases are treated the same.

He added that placing SEND pupils in mainstream schools will be the “best to challenge them or allow them to grow and thrive”.

He welcomed that mental health conditions will be largely supported by general school-based support systems, like the new ISPs, rather than formal SEND pathways.

However, he raised concerns over the new workload schools will have doing their own assessments. While he feels the changes are “positive”, the “execution will be challenging”.

In Portsmouth, SEND continues to place financial pressure on the budget, with around £44m allocated to the high needs block for 2026/27 – up from £37m last year.

With costs linked to special schools, inclusion centres, alternative provision, out-of-city placements, and post-16 support, the budget is facing an £8.5m deficit. However, around £4m will be met from reserves.

The government has pledged to write off 90 per cent of deficits up to the end of 2025/26 (March 2026) but not for 2026/27.

Stephen Morgan, Labour MP for Portsmouth South added: “I have always held the firm belief that every child, regardless of their needs, should be provided with the appropriate support that allows them to not only succeed, but thrive.

“However, I know from previous engagement with both SEND pupils and their families, along with schools and organisations within the sector, that our SEND system is fundamentally broken.”

He said he welcomes the reforms “to ensure that support comes earlier, is easier to access, and works around Portsmouth children and families rather than forcing them to fight for help”.