Councils are facing a substantial increase in costs for special educational needs and disabilities provision by 2029 if immediate reforms are not implemented, warned a prominent think-tank. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) highlighted a significant surge in high needs spending in schools, which has escalated by 66% since 2016. Data revealed that 5.2% of pupils under 16 in England have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), while 7.2% receive child disability living allowance (CDLA), a benefit for children with disabilities.

The IFS projected that spending on EHCPs and CDLA, currently totaling £16 billion, is set to reach £21 billion by 2029, more than double the expenditure in 2016. Additionally, high needs spending in schools is anticipated to increase by £3 billion by 2029. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is devising plans to revamp the strained SEND system in a forthcoming white paper. Concerns have been raised by parents regarding potential changes to EHCPs, which provide tailored support to children in need.

The number of children with EHCPs has risen from 3% in 2018 to 5%, placing financial strain on councils. Darcey Snape, a research economist at IFS, emphasized the need for government review of the long-standing child disability living allowance. Leaders in the education sector expressed the urgency for investment in early identification of children’s needs to prevent escalated intervention requirements as they grow older.

Amid escalating costs and an overburdened system, stakeholders are advocating for a comprehensive reform of the SEND system to meet the evolving needs of children and families. The Local Government Association’s Children, Young People and Families Committee Chair, Cllr Amanda Hopgood, called for collaborative efforts between councils and the government to address existing challenges while prioritizing the voices and needs of children and families.