The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) holds an evidence session on
support for children and young people with special educational
needs (SEN) at 3.30pm on Monday 18th
November. The session follows the National Audit
Office's 2024 report on the subject.
The NAO's report found that, since 2019, there has been no
consistent improvement in outcomes for children and young people
with SEN. In 2021-22, 69% of those with SEN move into employment
and education after school, compared to 85% of those without SEN.
These are similar proportions to 2018-19, despite a real-terms
funding increase of 58% to £10.7bn between 2014-15 and
2024-25.
The NAO's report highlighted a lack of confidence amongst
families and children in an SEN system that often falls short of
statutory and quality expectations, and is described by the
Government as increasingly adversarial. The NAO also warned that
when accounting arrangements stopping education-related spending
deficits impacting local authorities' financial position end in
March 2026, some two-fifths of local authorities will be at risk
of effectively declaring bankruptcy.
Based on the NAO report, the Committee will hear from senior
officials at the Department for Education (DfE) and the
Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). The session will
likely see both Departments challenged on how to ensure the
system delivers better outcomes for children and young people.
Other likely topics include how critical financial pressures
faced across all local authorities will be relieved, as well as
what lessons Government has so far learned that can be
incorporated into future changes to the system.
From 3.30pm:
- Susan Acland-Hood, Permanent
Secretary at Department for Education (DfE)
- Juliet Chua CB, Director General
Schools at DfE
- Alison Ismail, Senior Responsible
Officer for SEN at DfE
- Jonathan Marron, Director General
Primary Care and Prevention at Department for Health and Social
Care (DHSC)
