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The government has announced a commitment to increase the number of places available for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in mainstream schools across England by 50,000. This expansion is part of a £3 billion investment planned over the next three years, which will be partially financed by halting the construction of certain proposed free schools.
Local councils, which will be the recipients of this funding, have emphasized the importance of allocating money to the appropriate areas and ensuring that decisions are informed by local expertise regarding community needs. Currently, nearly 1.7 million pupils in England receive some form of support for special educational needs, and this number continues to grow annually.
Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, explained that this financial boost will support the SEND reforms set out in the forthcoming schools White Paper, which was originally scheduled for release in the autumn but has been delayed. Following a consultation, the government has decided to cancel the building of 28 new mainstream free schools and is reviewing plans for an additional 16 sites. Phillipson stated, “We have made the decision not to go ahead with some schools where we’ve seen falling rolls because of pupil numbers and investing that money into provision for children with SEND.”
The funds saved from these cancellations will allow councils to adapt existing school facilities to create more specialist spaces, reducing the need for pupils to travel long distances. These improvements could include breakout areas designed for children requiring additional support or tailored rooms for pupils with autism or ADHD who might be sensitive to overstimulating environments. Additionally, there are 77 proposed special free schools that local authorities may choose to establish, or they can allocate the equivalent funds to create specialist places elsewhere.
Amanda Hopgood, a councillor representing the Local Government Association, highlighted the necessity of situating SEND places appropriately. She remarked, “If we build a big school in the middle of nowhere that we have to transport everyone to, then that’s money that isn’t used on education. And those children are not being educated in their local communities where they live with their friends.” She pointed out that local authorities spent approximately £1.5 billion on transport for under-16s with SEND in the 2023-24 financial year, a figure nearly two and a half times higher than in 2015-16.
Headteachers’ unions have expressed support for the investment initiative, but school leaders’ union NAHT noted that focusing solely on building improvements is insufficient. They stressed the need for adequately trained teachers and leaders with specialist expertise to meet the needs of these pupils. At Ninestiles Academy in Birmingham, for example, nearly 50 students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) spend around 70% of their time in mainstream lessons, with the remainder dedicated to tailored lessons delivered by specially-trained staff.
While the government claims the increased funding will help councils address local demand more swiftly, Principal Alex Hughes at Ninestiles cautioned that “the devil will be in the detail” regarding the practical impact on individual schools. Brendan, a 14-year-old student at Ninestiles, benefits from attending mainstream classes alongside the additional support he receives in a dedicated resource hub. His mother, Laura Jerram, described this arrangement as “the best of both worlds,” crediting pastoral support as a crucial factor in keeping him engaged at school.
However, Laura also shared that acquiring an EHCP for Brendan was a challenging experience. She described the process as “a horrible journey” and expressed concerns that families with more resources tend to fare better in navigating it. She reflected, “I feel that for Brendan, if he’d had support much earlier on, he may not have fallen out of education the way he did.”
Despite increased government spending, many parents remain dissatisfied with the SEND system. The National Audit Office has warned that improvements in funding have not yet translated into better outcomes for students. Furthermore, the number of parents taking legal action against councils over SEND provision disputes has reached a record high in 2024-25. The Ministry of Justice reported that there were 25,000 SEND appeals this year, an 18% rise from the previous year, with most cases focusing on disagreements over EHCP content.
Regarding the cancelled free schools, these proposals will now undergo a consultation process. Although Eton College’s plans to open selective sixth-form centres in Dudley and Oldham have been approved, their proposal for Middlesbrough is slated for cancellation. Free schools in England receive public funding but operate independently, often managed by academy trusts, universities, charities, or faith organizations
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