In February 2026, the Department for Education published its highly anticipated schools white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, alongside the landmark SEND consultation, Putting Children and Young People First. For families of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and the neurodiversity professionals who support them, these documents signal the most significant overhaul of the inclusive education system in a generation.
At the very heart of these SEND reforms is a brand-new acronym that parents and professionals alike need to understand: the Digital ISP (Individual Support Plan).
But what exactly is a Digital ISP? Will it replace the EHCP? And how will it change the day-to-day reality for neurodivergent children in mainstream schools? Here is everything you need to know.
Moving Away from the “EHCP or Nothing” Binary
For years, the SEND system in England has felt like a cliff edge. Over a million children in state schools are identified as having special educational needs, yet only a fraction meet the high threshold for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). For those without an EHCP, SEN support has often been a postcode lottery—inconsistent, poorly funded, and difficult for parents to track.
The 2026 SEND reforms aim to replace this “EHCP-or-nothing” binary with a new, three-tiered model of support:
- Universal: High-quality adaptive teaching and inclusive environments for every child.
- Targeted / Targeted Plus: Structured, funded support (such as speech and language therapy or sensory interventions) recorded in a new Digital ISP.
- Specialist: For children with the most complex needs, supported by a Specialist Provision Package and an EHCP.
The Digital ISP sits squarely in the middle, acting as the bridge that extends legally required, individualised support to hundreds of thousands of children for the very first time.
What is a Digital ISP?
An Individual Support Plan (ISP) is a statutory, digital record of a child’s specific needs and the day-to-day provision they require to overcome barriers to learning.
Under the new reforms, every school, nursery, and college will have a legal duty to create an ISP for any child with identified SEND. Crucially, a formal medical diagnosis (such as autism, ADHD, or dyslexia) is not required to trigger an ISP.
Because the ISPs are completely digitised, they offer several massive advantages over the old system of paper-based SEN support plans:
- Total Transparency: Parents and carers will have digital access to the ISP. You will be able to log in and see exactly what support your child is supposed to be receiving, and track how it is being delivered.
- Portability: When a child transitions from primary to secondary school, or from school to college, their digital ISP transfers instantly with them. No more lost paper files or starting from scratch with a new SENCO.
- Consistency: The digital templates will be standardised nationally, putting an end to the confusion caused by different Local Authorities using entirely different formatting.
Will the ISP Replace the EHCP?
The short answer is: No, EHCPs are not going away.
However, the way they interact with mainstream education will change. EHCPs will be reserved for children requiring “Specialist Provision Packages”—meaning those with the most complex needs who require intensive support, special school placements, or dedicated inclusion bases.
If your child currently has an EHCP, they will also be given a Digital ISP. In this scenario, the EHCP acts as the overarching legal entitlement, while the Digital ISP serves as the practical, day-to-day manual for the teachers, detailing exactly how that specialist support will be delivered in the classroom.
The Transition Timeline
The government has assured families that no child will suddenly lose their support. Transitioning to the new system will take time:
- Children currently in Year 3 and above will retain their existing EHCPs until they are at least 16.
- Children currently in Year 2 and below will be reassessed when they transition from primary to secondary school (around 2029/2030). At this point, if their needs can be successfully met in a mainstream school with extra funding, they may transition from an EHCP to a Digital ISP.
What This Means for Parents
For parents who have spent years fighting for basic support, the Digital ISP offers a glimmer of hope. The goal is early intervention. Instead of waiting years for an EHCP needs assessment to secure a bit of speech therapy or a sensory-friendly learning environment, schools will be empowered to deploy this support rapidly via the ISP.
However, some parents remain cautious. While EHCPs carry the heavy legal backing of the SEND Tribunal, disputes regarding ISPs will primarily be handled through an updated school complaints system (which will now include an independent SEND expert). Ensuring that ISPs carry enough weight to hold schools accountable will be a key focus for parent advocacy groups over the coming months.
For more information, check out the government resources for parents.
What This Means for Neurodiversity Professionals
For SENCOs, Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, and Occupational Therapists, the digitisation of ISPs is a game-changer.
Currently, SENCOs spend a vast majority of their time navigating clunky administrative tasks. A unified, digital ISP system—potentially integrating with existing school management software—should drastically reduce this burden, freeing professionals up to do what they do best: working directly with children.
Furthermore, ISPs will be backed by the new “Experts at Hand” programme. This £1.8 billion initiative aims to flood mainstream schools with access to clinical-style pathways and specialist professionals, ensuring that the interventions written into the digital ISPs are evidence-based and adequately resourced.
Have Your Say
The introduction of Digital ISPs represents a monumental shift in how we support neurodivergent children and those with learning differences in the UK. Whether you are a parent fighting for your child’s right to an inclusive education, or a professional working on the front lines of the SEND system, your voice is vital.
The Department for Education is currently seeking feedback on these proposals. The consultation window is open from 23rd February to 18th May, and we strongly encourage everyone in the SEND community to submit their views on the official GOV.UK website.
By engaging with the consultation now, we can help ensure that Digital ISPs become a tool for genuine empowerment, rather than just another administrative hurdle.
