The UK government is promoting a new model of inclusive education as a national blueprint to transform Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision. The shift highlights a significant focus on an “inclusion-first” approach in mainstream schools.
For local authorities such as West Sussex County Council, which is currently facing a projected £224 million SEND deficit, the adoption of this model is becoming a financial necessity as well as an educational one. The proposed reforms, part of the ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ White Paper published in February 2026, introduce a new four-tier support framework. This system is designed to replace the 2015 “graduated approach” and move away from paper-heavy records in favour of digital Individual Support Plans (ISPs) for pupils in mainstream settings.
The West Sussex Context
The national drive for reform carries high stakes for West Sussex. The county’s High Needs Block deficit is estimated to reach £224 million by the time the national “statutory override”—an accounting rule that allows councils to keep SEND deficits off their main balance sheets—ends in March 2026.
To address these mounting debts, the government pledged in early 2026 to pay off 90% of local authority SEND deficits. However, this bailout is strictly conditional: councils must implement approved reform plans that mirror the national inclusion model.
West Sussex County Council has already launched its own ‘SEND Strategy 2026 to 2030’, which focuses on providing earlier intervention and keeping support closer to a child’s home. According to official evidence submitted to Parliament, the pressure to reform is driven by evolving requirements that have seen projections suggest one in ten pupils across England may require a formal support plan by 2029.
What the Changes Mean for Parents
While the government is pushing for the adoption of digital ISPs to provide faster support in mainstream classrooms, the transition has raised questions regarding the future of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Under the new framework, the government aims to reduce the reliance on formal EHCPs by providing more robust support at a mainstream level. However, parents and carers are advised that the current statutory protections afforded by an EHCP remain in place. Significant changes to the underlying legislation are not expected to take effect until 2029 at the earliest.
For families in the county, the shift will likely see local secondary schools receiving more integrated specialist resources. The objective is to ensure that mainstream schools have the capacity and funding to support children who might previously have required a place in a specialist unit or out-of-county provision.
As the March 2026 financial deadline approaches, the Department for Education is expected to monitor West Sussex’s progress closely to ensure the local strategy aligns with the national blueprint, which is intended to provide a more sustainable path for both school budgets and pupil outcomes.