Education White Paper Digest

The Department for Education has published a major new White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, which sets out the Government’s long-term vision for education in England through to the 2030s, including significant reforms to curriculum, SEND and accountability.

The White Paper outlines national ambitions to raise standards while strengthening inclusion, with reforms phased in gradually between 2025 and 2029.

We have pulled together some of the main highlights below. 

SEND and Inclusion

SEND reform is one of the most significant elements of the White Paper. The Government describes a shift towards earlier identification, stronger mainstream inclusion and clearer national expectations for support.

The reforms are designed to move the system from a reactive, postcode-dependent model to earlier, evidence-based and nationally consistent support.

Key proposals include:

• strengthening inclusive mainstream provision
• a new 'Experts at Hand' service providing access to speech and language therapists, educational psychologists and other specialists
• a new statutory duty for schools to record and monitor SEND provision through Individual Support Plans
• nationally defined Specialist Provision Packages to underpin future EHCPs
• continued EHCPs for pupils with the most complex needs
• expansion of special school places and inclusion bases in mainstream settings

 What might change:

• schools will be required to record and monitor SEND provision through Individual Support Plans, replacing more inconsistent local systems
• faster access to external specialists, meaning teachers will need to coordinate with them more regularly
• inclusion bases and specialist outreach will become more widespread and may alter in‑school support structures

Primary highlights 

The White Paper places strong emphasis on early foundations. There is a clear focus on ensuring more children arrive at school ready to learn, and that literacy and numeracy remain central to primary education.

Key proposals include:

• expanding Best Start Family Hubs, each with a dedicated SEND practitioner
• increasing the proportion of children reaching a Good Level of Development in Reception, with a national ambition of 75% by 2028
• maintaining a strong focus on phonics and early reading
• strengthening transition between early years providers and primary schools 
• refreshing the national curriculum for first teaching from 2028

What might change: 

• stronger expectations around early identification of need between EYFS providers and schools
• greater emphasis on transition information-sharing (EYFS → Year 1)
• a future need to adjust planning and sequencing when the refreshed curriculum arrives

Secondary highlights 

At secondary phase, the emphasis is on maintaining curriculum breadth while raising overall attainment. The Government has set a long-term ambition for children, on average across the system, to achieve grade 5 or above across their GCSEs, alongside a long-term aim to halve the disadvantage gap.

Proposals include:

• updating GCSE qualifications from 2029 for first teaching
• consulting on reforms to Progress 8 to better support subject breadth
• introducing a new statutory Year 8 reading assessment
• strengthening digital, media and critical thinking skills across the curriculum

What might change:

• departments will need to update key Stages 3 and 4 curriculum planning as the new curriculum and GCSEs approach
• more emphasis on critical thinking, media literacy, and digital skills across subjects
• a greater focus on progression and depth at Key Stage 3

Attendance & Engagement

The White Paper broadens the national spotlight beyond attendance alone, placing new emphasis on pupil experience and sense of belonging.

Key proposals include:

• a national ambition to raise attendance to over 94%, equating to 20 million more days in school each year
• schools will be required to monitor pupil belonging and engagement by 2029
• annual publication of national pupil experience data
• a new structured model for reintegration after suspension

What might change:

• increased focus on relational, wellbeing and engagement data
• clearer expectations for how pupils are supported back into school following a suspension
• greater national transparency about pupil experiences

Teacher training and professional development 

There is a recognition that to achieve the ambitious goals of driving standards and reforming inclusion, there is a need for investment in professional development, leadership and workforce stability.

Key proposals include:

• strengthening the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) and reviewing it again in 2027
• reforming National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) to better reflect current priorities, including SEND and people leadership
• introducing new professional development programmes for experienced teachers and leaders
• investing over £200 million over three years in SEND-focused training across early years, schools and post-16 settings
• expanding access to high-quality CPD through RISE and Teaching School Hubs like Red Kite Teaching School Hub

What might change:

• clearer professional development pathways at every career stage
• stronger expectation that schools embed evidence-informed CPD cultures
• greater alignment between leadership development, NPQs and school improvement priorities
• improved visibility and accessibility of professional development opportunities across the system

What next? 

The White Paper provides a long‑term direction rather than immediate change, with curriculum updates expected from 2028 and SEND reforms progressing through consultation before implementation. While the national picture continues to evolve, Red Kite Connect is already actively preparing schools, leaders and teachers for this shift.

Across our 2025/26 programme, placed a strong emphasis on empowering leadership and strengthening workforce expertise in SEND, helping to support every teacher to be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to be a teacher of SEND. Through high‑quality CPD, leadership development pathways and access to specialist training across our network, we are creating opportunities that directly reflect the priorities outlined in the White Paper.

As part of the Red Kite partnership, our commitment is clear - we will continue to align our work with national reforms as they develop, while supporting schools to build inclusive, evidence‑informed practice now. Red Kite Connect will remain a proactive hub for professional growth, collaboration and sector‑leading training, helping our community not only adapt to change but lead it.