Send Code of Practice – Your Complete Guide to the 2015 Framework

The SEND Code of Practice is the statutory guidance that sets out how children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in England should be identified, assessed, and supported from birth to age 25. It sits at the centre of the SEND system and has been the operating standard for schools, local authorities, and health services since 2015.

Published under the Children and Families Act 2014, the Code replaced the earlier 2001 SEN Code and introduced a single 0-to-25 framework. It is not a law itself, but the organisations it covers must follow it unless they have a legally defensible reason not to. Understanding its provisions is essential for families, educators, and professionals navigating SEND support in England.

This guide explains what the SEND Code of Practice contains, when it was published, what legal force it carries, and what the key requirements are for schools and local authorities. It also addresses the question of whether a new code is expected in 2025 or 2026.

What is the SEND Code of Practice?

The SEND Code of Practice provides statutory guidance for organisations in England that work with and support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. It covers the full 0-to-25 age range and applies to local authorities, maintained schools, academies, early years providers, further education institutions, health bodies, and youth offending teams. The Department for Education describes it as the framework for the SEND system under Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

Key insights at a glance

• The SEND Code of Practice is not a law but must be followed unless there is a good reason not to.
• It replaced the 2001 SEN Code and came into force in January 2015.
• It introduced the Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, replacing Statements of SEN.
• Local authorities must provide a Local Offer of support for families.
• There have been consultations for reform, but no new code has been published as of 2025.
• The Code emphasises child- and family-centred practice, early intervention, and collaboration across services.

Core facts about the SEND Code of Practice

When was the SEND Code of Practice published and will there be an update in 2025 or 2026?

The current SEND Code of Practice was published in January 2015 and came into effect on 1 April 2015. It was issued under the Children and Families Act 2014, which had received royal assent the previous year. The version widely used today is the January 2015 consolidated PDF available on the official GOV.UK guidance page.

Why is there sometimes confusion about a 2014 version?

Some references mention a 2014 version because the Children and Families Act was passed in 2014 and a draft code was published for consultation that year. However, the final, legally effective code was published in January 2015. The GOV.UK publication history notes that an earlier version was removed and that the 0-to-25 code replaced it from 1 April 2015.

Is a new SEND Code of Practice expected in 2025 or 2026?

As of the latest published guidance, no new version of the SEND Code of Practice has been confirmed. The Department for Education launched a SEND Review and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan in 2022–2023, which proposed significant changes to the SEND system. While these consultations could lead to a revised code in the future, no official announcement has been made about a publication date for 2025 or 2026.

Is the SEND Code of Practice a law?

The SEND Code of Practice is not primary legislation. It is statutory guidance issued under Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the associated SEND Regulations. This distinction matters because statutory guidance does not carry the same legal weight as an Act of Parliament, but the bodies it covers must follow it unless they have a compelling reason not to.

What does “have regard to” mean in practice?

The phrase “have regard to” is the key legal mechanism. It means that schools, local authorities, health bodies, and other named organisations must consider the Code’s provisions and follow them. If they choose to depart from the guidance, they must be able to justify that decision with a legally defensible reason. In effect, the Code functions as a binding framework for most operational decisions in the SEND system.

The Engage Education summary notes that the Code sets out both legal requirements and statutory guidance, and that mainstream and special schools must have regard to it. This dual nature means some provisions in the Code are legally required (because they reflect underlying legislation), while others represent recommended best practice that still carries statutory force.

How does it relate to the Children and Families Act 2014?

The Children and Families Act 2014 is the primary legislation that created the legal framework for the current SEND system. Part 3 of that Act deals specifically with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The SEND Code of Practice is the statutory guidance issued under that Act, explaining how the legal duties should be implemented in practice. The two documents work together: the Act provides the legal obligations, and the Code provides the operational detail.

What are the key points of the SEND Code of Practice 2015?

The SEND Code of Practice is built around several central themes that shape how support should be delivered. These principles run through every section of the document and inform the practical duties placed on schools, local authorities, and health services.

The five core principles

Multiple sources, including the Engage Education summary and the Leeds Local Offer, describe the Code’s central themes consistently. These are child- and family-centred practice, early identification and early intervention, a graduated response to need, collaboration between education, health, social care, families, and young people, and high aspirations with a focus on outcomes and preparation for adulthood.

The practical system the Code sets out

The Code establishes a structured approach to identifying and meeting needs. This includes SEN Support in schools and settings, the Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle, Education, Health and Care needs assessments and plans (EHCPs), the Local Offer, disagreement resolution and appeals procedures, and specific duties relating to transition and preparing for adulthood.

The four broad areas of need

The Code groups special educational needs into four categories to help schools and professionals identify appropriate support. These are communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social, emotional and mental health, and sensory and/or physical needs. The categories are not mutually exclusive, and a child or young person may have needs that span multiple areas.

What is the difference between the 2014 and 2015 SEND Code?

The relationship between the 2014 and 2015 versions is straightforward once the timeline is clear. The Children and Families Act 2014 received royal assent in March 2014 and mandated the creation of a new SEND Code. A draft code was published for consultation later that year, but the final, consolidated statutory guidance was published in January 2015 and came into legal effect on 1 April 2015.

1. 2014 – The Children and Families Act is passed, mandating a new SEND Code of Practice for the 0-to-25 age range.
2. January 2015 – The final SEND Code of Practice is published as a consolidated PDF, replacing the 2001 SEN Code.
3. 1 April 2015 – The new Code comes into legal effect; the previous 2001 Code ceases to apply.
4. 2019–2020 – The Department for Education launches a SEND Review to assess system performance.
5. 2022–2023 – The SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan consultation takes place, proposing significant reforms.
6. 2024–2025 – Ongoing policy discussions continue; no new code has been published. Rumours of a 2025 update remain speculative.

Some sources refer to a “2014 Code” because the Act that authorised it was passed that year, but the statutory guidance itself is consistently dated January 2015. The full PDF of the Code carries the January 2015 date and is the definitive reference.

Will there be a SEND Code of Practice 2025 or 2026 update?

As of the latest published guidance, no new version of the SEND Code of Practice has been confirmed by the Department for Education. Discussions about reform are ongoing, but a formal announcement about a replacement code has not been made.

The Leeds Local Offer SEND Code page and other local authority resources continue to reference the 2015 Code as the current framework. Until an official replacement is published, the 2015 statutory guidance remains the authoritative document for the SEND system.

How does the SEND Code of Practice relate to the Children and Families Act 2014?

The SEND Code of Practice exists because the Children and Families Act 2014 created the legal framework for a reformed SEND system. Part 3 of the Act introduced Education, Health and Care plans, the 0-to-25 age range, and the duty on local authorities to publish a Local Offer. The Code translates those legal duties into operational guidance for the organisations that must deliver them.

The Code does not replace or override the Act. It sits alongside other statutory guidance and legislation. For example, the Equality Act 2010 continues to protect disabled children separately, and the Code does not diminish those protections. Understanding the relationship between these documents is essential for schools, health professionals, and families navigating the SEND system. The charity Kids emphasises that the Code “ensures that children with SEND receive the right support and have equal opportunities to thrive and develop.”

One practical implication is that when a local authority or school makes a decision about SEND provision, that decision must be consistent with both the Act and the Code. If a dispute arises, the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) will refer to the Code as the standard against which the decision is judged. This is why the Code carries such weight in practice even though it is not primary legislation.

Where can you find the official SEND Code of Practice?

The primary source for the SEND Code of Practice is the GOV.UK guidance page, which hosts the full document and records its publication history. The January 2015 PDF is the definitive version for legal and operational reference. Several other organisations provide summaries and explanations that can help make the Code more accessible.

“The SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years is statutory guidance for organisations that work with and support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.”

— GOV.UK

“The SEND Code of Practice is statutory guidance for organisations that work with and support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.”

— Leeds Local Offer

“The SEND Code of Practice ensures that children with SEND receive the right support and have equal opportunities to thrive and develop.”

— Kids (charity)

The Pentagon Play guide and the Kids charity guide offer summaries from different perspectives, with the latter written in a parent-friendly Q&A format. These can be useful starting points alongside the official document.

Can you provide a summary of the SEND Code of Practice?

The SEND Code of Practice 2015 is the statutory, 0-to-25 guidance for England’s SEND system, built on the Children and Families Act 2014. Its core message is that education, health, and care bodies must work together early and consistently to identify need, provide support, and focus on outcomes. It introduced EHC plans, the Local Offer, and a graduated approach to SEN Support. It remains the current framework as of 2025, with no replacement code yet confirmed. The concept of inclusion across services is central to the Code, which connects to broader ideas about What Does Diversity Mean – Biology, Science, Care Contexts. Its emphasis on collaboration with health bodies also links to practical details such as What Is My NHS Number – Quick Guide to Find Yours in the UK for families navigating the system.

Frequently asked questions about the SEND Code of Practice