Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Deferred
Assess funding required for SEND reforms and plan short-to-medium term investment aligning with timelines.
Conclusion
The Department must urgently assess the funding required to implement meaningful reforms to SEND provision. There must be a clear plan for how the Department will work towards this level of investment in the short and medium term, which aligns with the timeline for SEND reforms. (Recommendation, Paragraph 38)
Government Response Summary
The government details current and future funding allocations for SEND, including an increase of £4.2 billion by 2028-29 and £740 million in high needs capital for 2025-26, and will extend the Statutory Override for local authority deficits. However, it defers setting out a clear plan for how it will work towards the assessed level of investment, stating further details will be provided in the upcoming Local Government Finance Settlement and in due course.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The overall schools and high needs funding included in the Department’s spending review settlement – an increase of £4.2 billion by 2028–29 compared to 2025–26 – continues the support available for children and young people with SEND. It will help in transforming mainstream education so that more of them are included, and in improving their outcomes whether in mainstream or specialist provision. We recognise that local authorities will need support during the transition to a reformed SEND system. We will work with local authorities to manage their SEND system, including deficits, alongside an extension to the Statutory Override until the end of 2027–28. The government will set out further details on our plans to support local authorities with historic and accruing deficits through the upcoming Local Government Finance Settlement. We also recognise the important role of capital funding in improving access to provision and in improving the inclusivity of mainstream schools. The £740 million high needs capital for 2025–26 is a core part of our investment into the SEND system. This is an unringfenced formulaic allocation that enables LAs to build provision in line with local priorities. We will set out more detail for our approach across the spending review period in due course.