The Government is making changes to the national Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system.
These changes aim to make support clearer and easier to understand for children, young people and families. Hull City Council is now developing its local plan to put these changes in place.
What the reforms mean for children and families
Support for children and young people will be organised into four levels:
Universal Support
Inclusive teaching and an environment where every child feels welcome.
Targeted Support
Simple, planned help for common needs. This may include small-group work or short-term support.
Targeted Plus
Extra advice from specialists to help children stay settled in their local mainstream setting.
Specialist Support
Support for the most complex needs. This includes Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
More expert help in schools
A new Experts at Hand service will be introduced in Hull. This will bring specialist staff into early years settings, schools and colleges. The Team will include:
- Educational psychologists
- Speech and language therapists
- Occupational therapists
They will work directly with staff, children and families to:
- Give quick and practical advice
- Help schools make simple adjustments
- Reduce unnecessary assessments and paperwork
New national tools
The Government will introduce new tools to make support more consistent:
Individual Support Plans (ISPs)
Simple digital plans that move with the child when they change schools or settings.
National Inclusion Standards
A clear guide showing what every mainstream setting should offer by 2028.
Specialist Provision Packages
Set out the support available for children with more complex needs.
Support already in place in Hull
There are already a wide range of outreach services in Hull that help children and young people with:
- Communication and interaction needs
- Social, emotional and mental health needs
- Sensory processing differences
- Moderate and specific learning difficulties
These services were updated and expanded during 2024 and 2025. They will continue to grow as part of Hull’s SEND local plan.
Next steps
Over the coming months Hull City Council will:
- Develop the Experts at Hand service
- Strengthen joint working across education, health and care
- Create a new Alternative Provision model
- Publish a SEND local plan for Hull
Get in touch
If you have questions or would like to share your views, please contact localoffer@hullcc.gov.uk