Ministers face calls to explain how 6bn Send funding hole will be paid for

"Ministers are to reduce the rising cost of funding special educational needs provision through their overhaul of the system, as they faced calls to explain how a 6bn funding hole would be paid for. The government is under pressure to clarify how it will pay for special educational needs and disabilities (Send) spending in England, which is rapidly increasing, after Rachel Reeves said in the budget that she would take over full responsibility for the costs from local councils from 2028."

"Spending on the Send system by councils has reached 12bn this year a 66% increase over the last decade with billions of pounds spent in excess of their budgets on meeting their legal duties to children. The Office for Budget Responsibility highlighted a 6bn shortfall in funding in 2028-29 rising to 9bn in 2030-31. This comes on top of a cumulative 14bn of extra spending since 2020 that is still being held off balance sheets by English local authorities."

"Phillipson reassured Labour MPs on Thursday that extra costs of Send would not fall on the core schools allocation but the government budget overall, and suggested the OBR's presentation was misleading. She told a WhatsApp group of Labour MPs on Thursday that the changes would bring cost down for example, more local specialist places reducing demand for travel/ more costly private provision,"

Ministers plan an overhaul of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system intended to reduce rising funding pressures. Councils spend about £12bn on SEND this year, a 66% increase over the past decade, with billions spent beyond budgets to meet legal duties. The Office for Budget Responsibility projects a £6bn shortfall by 2028-29 and £9bn by 2030-31 and notes £14bn of extra spending since 2020 held off local authority balance sheets. The government says reforms will benefit children and parents, slow SEND spending growth, and that extra costs will come from the overall government budget rather than the core schools per-pupil allocation. Proposed measures include more local specialist places to reduce costly travel and private placements.

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