Education Select Committee evidence: solving the SEND crisis
We set out our evidence on the growing challenge county councils and unitary councils face in delivering SEND services in this submission.
This submission sets out our evidence to the Education Select Committee’s inquiry on solving the crisis in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
We argue that the current SEND system is financially unsustainable, increasingly adversarial, and failing to deliver improved outcomes for children. The response highlights the scale of demand pressures since the 2014 reforms, the significant impact on local authority finances—particularly in county areas—and the urgent need for comprehensive, long‑term reform implemented as a coherent package.
Our research finds a SEND system that is ‘broken’ - with EHCP numbers rising from 240,000 (2015) to 517,000 (2023), and high‑needs spending doubling to £10.8bn. In that time, councils have accrued £4bn in SEND deficits. At the same time, home‑to‑School Transport costs have surged 23% in two years, driven primarily by demand for SEND transport, and disproportionately affecting rural County Councils Network councils.
Recommendations to government put forward in the submission include:
- Implement the full package of ISOS Partnership reforms to create a financially sustainable, inclusive system.
- Develop a long‑term, equitable solution to SEND deficits beyond the statutory override expiring in March 2028.
- Strengthen accountability and participation of health partners in SEND delivery.
- Reform the SEND Tribunal to reduce adversarial processes.
- Incentivise mainstream school inclusivity, including via enhanced Ofsted focus.
- Create a fair funding formula for home to school transport, reflecting rural need.