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BBC summarises the UK's SEND education dilemma
And who's going to pay for the changes we need
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Wednesday 18th February 2026 |
Research by the Local Government Association (LGA) indicates that eight in ten councils could face bankruptcy due to mounting costs associated with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Currently, 1.7 million pupils receive support, with the number of young people on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) doubling in a decade to 639,000.
This surge is largely driven by a rise in autism diagnoses and increased demand for speech and mental health support following the pandemic.
Despite spending rising by two-thirds, the National Audit Office has declared the system "broken" and financially unsustainable, noting that outcomes for young people have not improved.
A severe shortage of state specialist places forces councils to fund expensive independent school places, which cost an average of £61,500 per person annually compared to £24,000 in state schools.
Consequently, councils face a projected £14bn deficit by 2028.
To address this, the government aims to deliver "bold reform" by prioritising earlier intervention and inclusivity in mainstream education.
Proposed solutions include £3bn in capital funding to create 50,000 new specialist places and £200m dedicated to teacher training.
Furthermore, the government plans to centralise the management of future SEND costs by 2028, while the LGA is urging them to write off existing council deficits to ensure financial stability.
Source: BBC News (UK)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy18y5jpw1o
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