Special Needs Education Spending on Track to Double by 2028, IFS Reports
Government expenditure on educating children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) in England is projected to double between 2015 and 2028, according to a new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). This surge in spending is placing significant pressure on funding for mainstream schools, raising concerns about the sustainability of the current system.
System Under Strain as Costs Escalate
The IFS report highlights that the increasing costs and operational failures within the Send provision have reached a critical juncture. Luke Sibieta, one of the authors, described the situation as "crunch time" for the government, emphasising that the system is becoming more costly while failing to adequately support those in need. He noted that ministers face stark choices: slow the growth of Send spending, accept ongoing squeezes on mainstream school funding, or inject additional resources through higher taxes or cuts elsewhere.
Bill Revans, the Send spokesperson for the County Councils Network, pointed out that councils have had to divert approximately £150 million from mainstream schools last year to prop up Send services, due to exponential rises in demand and costs. This has led to national Send spending per person increasing at double the rate of that for mainstream pupils.
Proposed Reforms and Financial Implications
With a schools white paper expected next month, the government plans to outline reforms, including expanding special needs provision in mainstream state schools. This aims to allow more children with Send to attend local schools, reducing competition for scarce and expensive special school places. However, the IFS warns that reducing the use of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) or limiting their support might be necessary to slow high-needs spending growth, though savings would be slow to materialise and further investment in mainstream school capacity would be required.
Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, stressed that beyond financial considerations, reforms must deliver real improvements for families, as the current system is not meeting the level of need effectively.
Government Response and Future Steps
In response to these challenges, the Department for Education recently announced a £200 million package for training school staff on teaching pupils with Send. A spokesperson stated that this initiative aims to promote good attendance, attainment, and wellbeing, aligning with the government's mission to make inclusive practice the norm across all schools.
As the debate intensifies, stakeholders are calling for urgent action to address the growing dysfunction in the Send system, ensuring that both financial stability and educational quality are maintained for all children in England.
