Education White Paper Digest

The Department for Education has published its new White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, which sets out the Government’s long‑term vision for education in England through the 2030s. It brings together reforms already underway alongside major new proposals across curriculum, SEND, workforce, accountability and system structure.

Changes will be introduced gradually, with some requiring further consultation or legislation. This summary outlines the key points leaders need to be aware of.

National Ambitions and Targets

The White Paper sets system‑wide goals for the end of the decade:

• Attainment 8 to rise to 50
• The KS4 disadvantage gap to halve (from 15.5 to 7.7)
• National absence to fall to 5.85%
• KS2 expected standard to reach 64.9% overall and 51.3% for disadvantaged pupils

These targets sit alongside a renewed emphasis on inclusion, attendance, high‑quality teaching and early intervention.

SEND and Inclusion

SEND reform is one of the most significant areas of change, aiming to deliver a more consistent, proactive and evidence‑based system.

Key proposals include:

• A national move towards earlier identification and support
• A new Experts at Hand service, providing routine access to therapists and specialist professionals
• Introduction of Individual Support Plans for all pupils requiring targeted SEND support
• A new layered model: Targeted, Targeted Plus and Specialist
• National Inclusion Standards from 2028
• Specialist Provision Packages forming the basis of future EHCPs
• Continued EHCP entitlement for pupils with the most complex needs, with reviews at phase transition starting from 2029–30
• A new Inclusive Mainstream Fund and a requirement for schools to publish an Inclusion Strategy
• Local SEND partnerships with schools pooling a minimum level of funding
• Expansion of specialist provision and inclusion bases (with the expectation that all secondary schools will have an inclusion base over time)
• Reform of Alternative Provision with greater focus on preventative outreach and structured reintegration

The SENCO role is expected to become more strategic, with reduced administrative burden and stronger emphasis on whole‑school practice.

Early Years and Primary

Early foundations and smooth transitions are a strong focus.

Key proposals include:

• Expansion of Best Start Family Hubs, each with a dedicated SEND practitioner
• Additional funding through the Inclusive Early Years Fund
• Expansion of school‑based nurseries and Mental Health Support Teams
• A national ambition for 75% of children to reach a Good Level of Development by 2028
• A 90% ambition for the phonics screening check
• Strengthened partnerships between EYFS settings and schools
• A refreshed curriculum for first teaching from 2028
• RISE Reception Networks to share best practice

Schools can expect stronger expectations around early identification, transition and information‑sharing.

Secondary Curriculum and Assessment

At secondary level, reforms focus on breadth, progression and raising outcomes.

Key proposals include:

• New GCSEs from 2029
• A consultation on Progress 8 reform
• Statutory reading and maths assessments at the end of Year 8
• A combined oracy, reading and writing framework
• Greater emphasis on digital, media, financial and cognitive skills across subjects
• A full three‑year Key Stage 3, supported by a new national KS3 Alliance
• Level 1 Preparation for GCSE qualifications for students with grade 2 and below
• Updated 16–18 measures recognising grade improvement rather than threshold attainment

Schools will need to plan for strengthened expectations around KS3 depth and progression.

Enrichment, Careers and Life Skills

The White Paper expands expectations for pupils’ wider development.

Key proposals include:

• A national Enrichment Framework outlining expectations for civic engagement, culture, sport, outdoor learning and life skills
• Continued investment in Music Hubs and PE and School Sport Partnerships
• Updated Gatsby benchmarks
• A requirement for all young people to undertake two weeks of work experience
• New vocational V Levels alongside A levels and T Levels
• Improved data sharing between schools, local authorities and post‑16 providers, including automatic local college allocation where no plan exists

This represents a significant strengthening of the broader curriculum offer beyond academic study.

Attendance, Behaviour and Pupil Engagement

The White Paper places increased focus on belonging, relationships and engagement.

Key proposals include:

• A national ambition for attendance above 94%
• Schools required to monitor pupil belonging and engagement by 2029
• Annual publication of national pupil experience data
• A new Pupil Engagement Framework
• Refreshed guidance on behaviour, suspensions and reasonable adjustments
• Reintegration Support Partnerships following suspensions
• A streamlined national complaints process through a new digital system
• Stronger expectations for home–school relationships and clear communication

Additional commitments include further work on disproportionality in exclusions, behaviour guidance, and strengthened scrutiny of pupil movement.

Disadvantage, Funding and Targeted Support

Alongside SEND reform, the White Paper outlines changes to how disadvantage is measured and funded.

Key proposals include:

• A consultation on a revised disadvantage funding model that accounts for length and depth of low income and geographical factors
• Enhanced support for effective use of pupil premium, including digital tools and funded strategy reviews
• Mission North East and Mission Coastal programmes targeting entrenched regional inequalities

Workforce, Training and Leadership

High‑quality teaching and leadership are highlighted as essential to delivering the reforms.

Key proposals include:

• Strengthened Early Career Teacher Entitlement
• Reformed NPQs with new content on SEND and people leadership
• Expanded development programmes for experienced teachers and leaders
• A Teacher Training Entitlement for the whole workforce
• A new national retention programme from 2026
• Increased maternity pay (eight weeks at full pay for teachers)
• Improved professional pathways for school business professionals
• A new national deal for supply staffing
• Long‑term capital and maintenance investment for school estates

These reforms aim to stabilise the workforce, strengthen expertise and support progression.

System Structures and Collaboration

The White Paper confirms long‑term expectations for system organisation.

Key proposals include:

• All schools to join a trust over time
• Clearer definitions of how local authorities and trusts will work together
• Inspection‑based accountability for trusts
• Re‑brokering schools where trusts underperform
• New Trust Standards with emphasis on inclusion, value for money, community impact and outcomes

Stronger local collaboration is expected, with trusts encouraged to show how they improve outcomes beyond their own schools.

Innovation, Digital and AI

The White Paper also looks ahead to the role of digital and AI technologies.

Key proposals include:

• National safety and efficacy standards for AI and EdTech
• Development and trialling of AI tutoring tools for secondary pupils
• Investment in assistive technologies
• Training to improve workforce confidence in using digital and AI resources
• Improved connectivity and simplified data‑sharing infrastructure 

How Red Kite Connect Is Responding

While many changes will be phased in over several years, Red Kite Connect is already supporting schools to prepare for this direction of travel. Our 2025/26 programme prioritises high‑quality professional development, leadership pathways and strengthening workforce expertise in SEND.

We will continue to align our work with national reforms as they develop, while supporting schools across our partnership to embed inclusive, evidence‑informed practice now.