NEW - SEND Report
The special educational needs (SEN) system is financially unsustainable unless reformed according to findings published this week by the National Audit Office (NAO). The report assessing the effectiveness of support for children and young people with SEN in England highlights significant financial pressures, with increased high-needs funding not translating into better outcomes.
Despite a 58% real-terms funding increase from 2014-15 to 2024-25, local authorities (LAs) are reported to be overspending, contributing to deficits in their dedicated schools grant (DSG). A statutory override allowing LAs to remove deficits from main budgets will expire in 2026, with 43% of LAs projected to have significant deficits.
The report also points to low parental confidence due to insufficient capacity and long waiting times and calls for better planning to meet future capacity needs.