My Summary 

This White Paper outlines a long-term structural and pedagogical reform of the English education system, with a heavy focus on inclusion, standardised SEND support, and multi-academy trust (MAT) expansion.

Here is a summary of the key proposals categorised for governing boards.

1. National Ambitions & Workforce

The government has set specific targets for 2028/29 to drive up standards:

• Academic: Aiming for an average GCSE grade of 5 or higher for all pupils.

• Equity: Halving the disadvantage attainment gap (roughly one full grade per subject).

• Attendance: Increasing national attendance by 20 million school days per year.

• Retention: Boosting teacher recruitment via improved maternity pay and incentives for headteachers in high-need areas.

2. SEND System Reform (The "Inclusion" Shift)

Perhaps the most significant change for boards is the move toward a more "inclusive mainstream" model, expected to take effect by 2029:

• Two-Tier Support: * Individual Support Plans (ISPs): A new legal requirement for all children with additional needs, developed with parents.

  • EHCPs: Reserved only for the most complex cases, based on a new "Specialist Provision Package."

• New Resources: An "Inclusive Mainstream Fund" for small group interventions and an "Experts at Hand" multi-agency service (Psychologists, SLT, etc.) accessible without an EHCP.

• Accountability: Schools must replace SEN Information Reports with a formal Inclusion Strategy.

3. Targeted Support & Funding

• Funding Reform: In 2026, the DfE will consult on moving away from Free School Meals (FSM) toward a household income-based measure for disadvantage funding, ideally triggered automatically by data.

• Geographic Focus: Specific programs ("Mission North East" and "Mission Coastal") and a focus on white working-class outcomes.

• Governance Oversight: The Pupil Premium strategy statement will be redesigned to make it easier for governors to hold leaders to account.

4. Structural Changes: MATs & Collaboration

The "direction of travel" is toward a fully academised system:

• Universal MATs: All schools are expected to join or form a "high-quality" MAT. Local Authorities will also be allowed to run trusts.

• Trust Standards: New standards focusing on inclusion and community. Ofsted will begin inspecting MATs directly.

• Local Governance: A likely legal requirement for trusts to maintain local governance for every school to ensure the board stays connected to parents.

5. Parental Engagement & Complaints

The Paper aims to make the "system" more transparent for families:

• School Profiles: A digital "one-stop-shop" for parents to see Ofsted data, attendance, and enrichment info.

• Complaints: A new digital portal to stop "parallel escalations" and a requirement for an independent member on complaint panels (including a SEND expert for ISP disputes).

6. Behaviour & Exclusions

The focus is on "belonging" while maintaining high standards:

• In-School Suspension: Flexibility to have pupils complete suspensions on-site in supervised environments.

• Off-Rolling Scrutiny: A new internal dashboard will help Ofsted identify suspicious patterns in pupil movement or "managed moves."

• Duty of Care: A proposed duty for schools to set work for excluded children immediately to prevent learning loss.

DfE has published the White Paper – Every child achieving and thriving and the SEND reform: putting children and young people first consultation.

Specialist SEND support in every school and community - GOV.UK - press release 

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