Local authorities across England are grappling with an unprecedented financial crisis as spending on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has surged dramatically, new figures reveal.
The estimated deficit for supporting children with special needs has ballooned to a staggering £1.5 billion, marking a 33% increase in just one year. This alarming escalation is placing immense pressure on council budgets and threatening funding for mainstream education.
The Growing Financial Black Hole
According to analysis by the County Councils Network (CCN), the projected shortfall in high-needs budgets has jumped from £1.1 billion last year. The situation has become so severe that 80% of county councils now report being unable to balance their dedicated schools budgets.
This financial strain is creating an impossible dilemma for local authorities, forcing them to consider redirecting funds from mainstream schools to cover the spiralling costs of SEND provision.
Real Impact on Local Services
The consequences extend far beyond the classroom. Councils are being compelled to make difficult choices about cutting other vital services to manage the deficit. Library hours, road maintenance, and social care programs all face potential reductions as local authorities scramble to meet their legal obligation to support children with special needs.
Keith Glazier, children's services spokesman for the CCN, described the situation as 'unsustainable', warning that 'councils are now having to take difficult decisions to reduce their high-needs deficits, which includes funding being withdrawn from mainstream schools.'
Behind the Soaring Costs
Several factors are driving this financial crisis:
- Rising demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- Increasing complexity of children's needs
- Growing costs of specialist placements and support
- Insufficient government funding to match real-world demands
The Department for Education has acknowledged the challenges, noting they're 'providing a significant amount of additional high needs funding for local authorities' and developing 'a more sustainable and inclusive SEND system.'
However, with deficits continuing to climb and councils facing impossible choices, the education sector awaits concrete solutions to this deepening crisis.
