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The educational support system for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England is reportedly approaching a point of severe dysfunction, according to leaders from local councils. The County Councils Network (CCN), which represents major local authorities, warns that deficits related to SEND provision will balloon to £4.4 billion annually by 2029 as councils face rising demand. Despite these mounting pressures, the government has postponed planned reforms to the SEND system, with a white paper outlining these changes delayed until next year.
Statistics from the Department for Education reveal a continued rise in the number of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), legal documents that entitle children to support from their local authorities. In January 2025, 638,745 EHCPs were in force, marking a 10.8% increase from the previous year. Throughout 2024, nearly 97,747 new plans were initiated, up 15.8% compared to the year before. The CCN has projected that by the end of this decade, one in every 20 children in England may require such support. However, the escalating costs are not solely due to increased demand. The network also highlights an “over-reliance on higher cost placements and special provisions,” including expensive placements in private schools.
The surge in demand has led to record numbers of pupils attending special schools—approximately 194,000 in England, compared with 109,000 during the 2014/15 academic year. The CCN forecasts that councils could be spending up to £8 billion on these placements by 2030. Meanwhile, families continue to face immense challenges navigating the SEND system. Amanda Quick, a mother whose 12-year-old son Ezra has autism and ADHD, shared her experience of battling local authorities to secure adequate support, a process which severely affected her mental health and required the costly assistance of a solicitor. Similarly, Claire Naylor recounted the difficulties she encountered obtaining provisions for her six-year-old son with non-verbal autism. The lengthy and costly EHCP process, which culminated in court proceedings, took over a year and involved expensive private assessments to prove her son’s needs.
The CCN has called on the government to write off the growing deficits councils face due to SEND spending and to revise laws so that EHCPs target those “most in need.” Councillor Bill Revans of Somerset County Council emphasized the unsustainable pressure on the system, stating, “The whole system needs looking at, including EHCPs… We will have no way of paying that off unless there is a solution from government.” Nonetheless, the future of the EHCP framework remains a contentious subject. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has not committed to whether the government will alter or remove EHCPs, despite pressure from Labour MPs and campaigners who insist on preserving these legal protections for families. Campaigners warn that weakening the specificity of EHCPs risks leaving children without the tailored support they require, a move that could undermine trust between families and authorities.
The delay in releasing the SEND reform white paper has drawn criticism across the political spectrum. Conservative MP Saqib Bhatti described the postponement as “seriously damaging,” emphasizing the critical nature of SEND support for children and families. Meanwhile, Reform UK has indicated that it plans to present its own proposals for the SEND system, although its deputy leader recently made controversial remarks suggesting some parents might “abuse” the system, potentially restricting support for those with genuine needs.
The government favors a strategy centered on earlier intervention and enhancing inclusion within mainstream schools. Schools Minister Georgia Gould has embarked on a listening tour to engage with constituencies and gather feedback from families. A spokesperson for the Department for Education acknowledged inheriting a SEND system “on its knees” but affirmed the commitment to improve inclusion and ensure that every child can thrive locally. Education Secretary Phillipson has received praise for her approachability and receptiveness, reflecting a more consultative stance after political unrest earlier in the year.
Nonetheless, MPs caution that these reforms must be comprehensive and adequately funded. Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan criticized any reform aimed primarily at saving money rather than genuinely improving the system, while Labour MP Rachael Maskell emphasized the necessity for increased resourcing, including workforce funding for specialists such as speech therapists, health visitors, and
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