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Westminster Hall debate, SEND education support, 25 February 2025
Inclusive SEND reform can deliver better outcomes for every child at a fraction of future costs, while safeguarding local authority budgets
About the Local Government Association
- The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national voice of local government. We are a politically led, cross party membership organisation, representing councils from England and Wales.
- Our role is to support, promote and improve local government, and raise national awareness of the work of councils. Our ultimate ambition is to support councils to deliver local solutions to national problems.
Key messages
- Unprecedented Rise in Demand: Since reforms in 2014, the number of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) has surged by 140 per cent—from 240,183 in 2014/15 to 575,973 in 2023/24—revealing an urgent and growing SEND crisis.
- Severe Funding Shortfalls: Despite a near doubling in national funding from £4.8 billion to £9.2 billion, local authority high needs spending has far outstripped allocations, with the cumulative deficit ballooning from £300 million to over £3 billion—threatening financial sustainability.
- Stagnant Outcomes: Increased investment has not translated into improved outcomes. Academic achievement for pupils with SEND remains low (c.24 per cent in Key Stage 2 for SEN Support and only 8 per cent for those with EHCPs), and disparities in post-16 destinations, health, and employment persist.
- Systemic Adversity: The SEND system has become increasingly adversarial—with Tribunal appeals rising by 334 per cent—reflecting a statutory framework that is unclear, misaligned, and failing families.
- Urgent Need for National Reform: Only a comprehensive, phased national reform—with a clear ambition for inclusive education and robust local support—will create a sustainable, equitable system that meets the needs of all children and young people.
Background
The crisis in SEND is not a transient issue—it is a systemic failure that has been intensifying over the past decade. Since the introduction of the 2014 reforms, there has been a dramatic 140 per cent increase in EHCPs. This surge, which has seen the proportion of young people with SEND rise from 1.4 per cent to 3.3 per cent, is most pronounced among school-age pupils, with 85 per cent of the growth occurring within core education ages. Notably, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, or speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) account for 88 per cent of this increase.
Alongside these figures, there has been a significant rise in placements within special schools. State-funded special school placements have increased by 60 per cent while independent special schools have seen an alarming 132 per cent jump. This shift underlines a growing failure of local mainstream schools to meet the needs of children with SEND and forces families into seeking specialist provision, often at considerable emotional and financial cost.
In parallel, national funding measures have not kept pace with the growing demand. While high needs block allocations have increased substantially—from £4.8 billion in 2014‑15 to £9.2 billion in 2024‑25—the actual expenditure by local authorities has exceeded these allocations by nearly £890 million in the most recent year. Our analysis indicates that the cumulative high needs deficit has escalated from £300 million in 2018‑19 to over £3.16 billion today, with projections suggesting it could edge closer to £4 billion without urgent intervention. Many local authorities have warned that, were the statutory override removed, up to half could face insolvency within a few years.
The increased funding has not led to better outcomes. Academic performance for pupils with SEND remains stagnant, with Key Stage 2 achievement figures for those receiving SEN support flatlining around 24 per cent and even lower for those with EHCPs. Moreover, the transition to adulthood is fraught with challenges, with post‑16 destinations showing little improvement and significant disparities persisting into adult health and employment outcomes.
The challenges are threefold. First, the Volume Challenge is evident: the exponential rise in EHCPs and the increasing complexity of needs demonstrate a failure in early, effective intervention. Second, the Decision‑Making Challenge stems from an unclear statutory framework—vague definitions of SEN and EHCP eligibility, misaligned responsibilities between local authorities and education settings, and an increasingly contentious role for the SEND Tribunal (as evidenced by a 334 per cent increase in appeals). Third, the Market Challenge is highlighted by an overreliance on independent providers, whose reactive placements and profit‐oriented models further exacerbate systemic inequities.
To turn the tide, the LGA calls for a comprehensive national reform that sets a clear vision for inclusive education. This must include establishing a National Framework and a National Institute of Inclusive Education to guide best practices, ensuring fair and sustainable funding, and realigning responsibilities across education, health, and local authorities. Only through a strategic, phased implementation can we build the capacity of mainstream education, reduce reliance on an adversarial tribunal system, and secure better outcomes for our children and young people.
The decisions made today will shape the futures of countless families and will determine whether our SEND system can move from a state of crisis to one of genuine inclusion and support.
Contact
Elliot Gregory
Public Affairs and Campaigns Adviser
Phone: 020 7664 3059
Mobile: 07766252833
Email: [email protected]