Councils are at risk of facing significantly higher costs for special educational needs and disabilities provision by 2029 if immediate reforms are not implemented, according to a prominent think-tank. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has pointed out a substantial increase in high needs spending, which has surged by 66% in schools since 2016.
Recent data reveals that 5.2% of pupils under 16 in England have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), offering the highest level of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Additionally, the percentage of children receiving child disability living allowance (CDLA) has risen from 3.4% to 7.2% over the past decade.
The IFS has cautioned that spending on EHCPs and CDLA, currently at £16 billion, is projected to reach £21 billion by 2029, more than double the real-terms expenditure in 2016. Furthermore, high needs spending in schools is anticipated to increase by an additional £3 billion by 2029.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is in the process of developing plans to revamp the struggling SEND system in a forthcoming white paper this autumn. Concerns have been raised by parents regarding potential alterations to EHCPs, which ensure tailored support for children in need.
The rise in the number of children with EHCPs, from 3% in 2018 to 5%, is straining financially constrained councils that struggle to cover the costs. Darcey Snape, a research economist at IFS, emphasized the need for a review of the child disability living allowance, which has remained largely unchanged for over 30 years.
Leaders in the education sector, including Paul Whiteman from NAHT and Pepe Di’Iasio from the Association of School and College Leaders, have highlighted the urgent need for reform in the SEND system. Cllr Amanda Hopgood of the Local Government Association’s Children, Young People and Families Committee echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the necessity of government collaboration with councils to address challenges and prioritize the needs of children and families.