Breaking down the Schools White Paper and what comes next

Every day, occupational therapists see the difference it makes when children and young people are included, understood and given the support they need to grow, learn and thrive.  

Last week the UK Government published the Every Child Achieving and Thriving White Paper and the accompanying SEND reform plan, Putting Children and Young People First.  

Together they set out an ambition where early support, inclusive environments and joined-up services are expectations, not aspirations. This is a direction we strongly welcome.  

A major step forward for occupational therapy in schools  

There’s lots to welcome in the White Paper and proposed SEND reforms and plenty of detail to work through. It’s especially encouraging to see occupational therapy recognised within the new ‘Experts at Hand’ support model which will give schools earlier and easier access to specialist expertise, including occupational therapy.   

We’ve been working hard to make sure occupational therapy was included in this White Paper. We’ve been influencing government by securing recognition of occupational therapy in the SEND reforms in the 10‑Year Health Plan and engaging MPs, including ongoing work with Sonia Kumar MP to champion OTs and AHPs for children with SEND.  

Our work on the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools programme, which members shared on a call with colleagues from the Department for Education last September, has also undoubtably helped shape this thinking.  

All of this work is reinforced by our role in the Send in the Specialists coalition and insights shared with the Chair of the independent ADHD, Mental Health and Autism review. 

What the White Paper gets right 

There is much to welcome and much to understand in more detail. The proposals most relevant to occupational therapy include: 

• A new Universal, Targeted, Targeted Plus and Specialist support offer, closely mirroring the tiered approach we have long advocated for occupational therapy in schools 

• National Inclusion Standards which will set a clear benchmark for effective inclusive practice – occupational therapists should play a key role in shaping these standards through our expertise in participation, reasonable adjustments and environmental adaptation 

• Individual Support Plans outlining the day-today support a child will receive. These will be developed with parents and relevant specialists (including occupational therapists where appropriate) and should include clear, measurable outcomes to track progress 

• Standardised Specialist Provision Packages for children and young people with the most complex needs – we need to ensure that access to occupational therapy is included where required 

• An expanded network of Mental Health Support Teams to which occupational therapists can make a significant contribution 

• Funding for new Support Bases and Specialist Bases, as well as adaptations to school buildings so more children can attend school locally – with our understanding of inclusive design, occupational therapists should have a key role in shaping these environments 

• Investment in SEND training for school staff – we already have a strong track record of delivering high quality, practical training 

• Expansion of Family Hubs, offering families practical, evidence-based support. This is an ideal opportunity for occupational therapists to build parents’ and carers’ confidence in promoting children’s development, learning and school readiness skills. 

This echoes our workforce strategy vision: a future where occupational therapists are enabled, positioned and supported to deliver early, needs‑led, whole‑system care across the places children live, learn and grow. 

But implementation is now the real test 

While the UK Government’s direction is encouraging, key questions remain. These include: 

• Will funding and workforce planning be sufficient and sustainable? 

• How will joint commissioning improve in practice? 

• How will local areas recruit and retain the professionals needed to deliver this model? 

• How will the reforms avoid unintentionally reducing access to specialist provision for those who need it? 

The upcoming 10‑Year Workforce Plan for Health and Care must recognise the pressures these reforms will place on the children’s occupational therapy workforce. Close collaboration across UK Government and with NHS England will be essential. 

What are we doing and what happens next 

The White Paper marks a significant milestone for children’s occupational therapists. 

Our core call for schools – consistent, early occupational therapy in mainstream settings – which we’re highlighting through our Right Support, Right Time campaign, has now been accepted in principle by the UK Government. The focus now shifts from making the case to making it happen. 

Over the coming weeks we will: 

• Gather views from members to understand what is needed to make the Government’s proposals deliverable in practice. 

• Use this insight to shape our next campaign asks and the detailed positions we take into discussions with Government. 

• Engage with key stakeholders across education, health and social care to influence the development of guidance, commissioning arrangements and workforce planning. 

• Share further updates, opportunities to get involved and a route for members to contribute case studies and evidence. 

We’re entering an important phase where the voice and expertise of occupational therapists will be essential. Please keep an eye on RCOT Communities for opportunities to contribute.