The government is making changes to the Special Educational Needs
and Disabilities (SEND) system. These changes
aim to improve how children with SEND receive support.
It's clear the SEND system is in dire need of reform. It is
failing children and families at every turn, where outcomes for
young people are nowhere near good enough.
Our reforms are about improving outcomes for young people, but
speculative projections from the Office of Budget Responsibility
(OBR) are causing confusion about how these reforms will be
funded. Here is everything you need to know.
How will SEND costs be funded?
While the Office for Budget Responsibility has
published projections about SEND costs alongside the
Budget, these were hypothetical illustrations.
What they have set out regarding the impact on school budgets is
fundamentally wrong. The OBR suggests funding could be taken from
the core schools budget. It will not. And their projections
do not account for the detail of our reforms.
We have committed to a period of co-creation before we
publish our Schools White Paper early next year and are working
with children, parents and the education sector to improve
experiences and outcomes – helping make the system more
sustainable in the long run.
The Treasury has made clear that the costs will be absorbed by
the overall government budget. Funding will
be determined at the next Spending Review, which will
take place in 2027.
What changes are being made to the SEND
system?
We are making it our mission to transform outcomes for all
children, including those with SEND. Our SEND reforms which are
being designed with parents, teachers, health teams and
experts are relentlessly focused on improving outcomes for
young people.
The reforms will be based on the following five principles:
-
Early – Children should receive the
support they need as early as possible.
-
Local - Children and young people with
SEND should be able to learn at a school close to their home,
alongside their peers.
-
Fair – Every school should be resourced
and able to meet common and predictable needs.
-
Effective – Reforms should be grounded in
evidence and best-practice.
-
Shared – Education, health and care
services should work in partnership with one another, local
government, families, teachers, experts and representative
bodies to deliver better outcomes for all children.
We've already started by creating 10,000 more
specialist places in mainstream schools, providing more training
for teachers, introducing earlier intervention for speech and
language needs, and placing SEND professionals in Best Start Family Hubs
in every local area.
A full plan for reform will be published early next
year through the Schools White Paper.
What will the reforms mean for schools and school
funding?
Any changes we make in future will improve support for children
and young people, mean parents won't have to fight for support,
and protect effective provision which is currently in place.
There will always be a legal right to additional support for
children and young people with SEND.
In addition, it's important that mainstream
schools are properly equipped and expected to welcome all pupils,
including those needing additional support.
Investment in schools is a priority. School budgets rose by
£3.7bn this year and they will rise by £1.7bn next year.
When will more details be available?
Full plans will be set out through the Schools White Paper early
next year. Work is continuing with
parents, teachers and local authorities as these plans
are developed.
What about local authority funding?
Local authorities currently cover the costs of the SEND system,
with the Dedicated Schools Grant statutory override
ensuring they can do this without reducing
other services.
From 2028 onwards, future costs will be managed, in
full, within the overall government budget. Local
authorities will not need to cover SEND costs from
their general funds after the end of 2027-28.
What happens next?
We will continue to work closely with families, teachers,
local authorities and experts to complete these
reforms.
Full reform plans will be published early next year and
engagement will continue with children and families about what
they need from the SEND system.
