Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether in areas with middle schools, a pupil transitioning to Middle school or from Middle school will count as a change in phase of education for the purposes of the EHCP reforms she outlined in February 2026.

Under the proposed reforms, children with education, health and care (EHC) plans will move from the existing system to the new system of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support at the natural end of phase points in mainstream schools. If a parent feels that their children’s needs have changed and would be better met through the provision set out in a Specialist Provision Package, they can request an early assessment at any point ahead of the end of phase transition.

After a 12-week consultation period including over 200 engagement events, meetings and roundtables, the department’s consultation ‘SEND reform: putting children and young people first’ has now closed. We are carefully reviewing and taking into account all responses submitted to the consultation and continuing to engage widely on our proposals and we will set out further detail, including on the issues the right hon. Member for East Hampshire raises, in our response to the consultation and thereafter.