Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consultation is she undertaking with the education sector on producing guidance for schools on the implementation of ISPs in order to ensure they deliver the outcomes intended in the SEND White Paper.

The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform proposes a duty on schools and colleges to produce an Individual Support Plan (ISP) for every child or young person who receives targeted or specialist support, ensuring help keeps pace with their development, prevents challenges from escalating, and reduces the risk of them disengaging from learning.

The ISP will be tailored in line with the layers of support, with guidance to support settings in creating high quality plans. We are consulting widely on proposals to reform the SEND system, including with the education sector, children, young people and families, teachers and leaders and schools and trusts. The consultation, which includes specific questions on ISPs, is available at: https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/.

It is also essential to update the 0-25 SEND Code of Practice (the Code) to ensure it reflects the changes we are proposing across the SEND system. We will undertake a separate, full public consultation on proposed changes to the Code, in line with statutory requirements. We will share further details on this following the government’s response to the SEND Consultation.