You may have seen the recent news in The Guardian about the SEND crisis and how it is creating a “lost generation” of children, pushing nearly half of councils with an education remit towards bankruptcy.
The report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) confirms what so many of us working with SEND families have long known to be true – the system needs reform.
Families face long struggles in a system that “inherently favours” those who are better equipped to deal with inevitable issues, leaving the most vulnerable behind.
It is not a surprise to discover that there is a “postcode lottery” in terms of the support on offer and this is due to the quality of support varying significantly between council areas.
In Lambeth, over 70 per cent of Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) are completed on time. However, in Southwark, fewer than 20 per cent meet the statutory deadline.
On a deeper level, these numbers represent real children – children who need support and families who want the best for them. The report also reveals that soaring demand for SEND services – a 140 per cent increase in EHCPs since 2015 which has left councils with a cumulative £4.6 billion deficit.
The statutory override allowing councils to exclude these deficits from their revenue budgets is set to expire in 2026, leaving 66 local authorities at risk of bankruptcy. Every delayed EHCP and denied specialist placement leads to additional burdens and lost opportunities.
As a Chartered Financial Adviser who specialises in supporting families with SEND children, I’ve sat across from parents who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and worried for their children’s futures.
My work often involves helping families plan financially for when parents are no longer around – creating tailored Special Needs Plans, establishing trusts, and coordinating professional teams to ensure these vulnerable children are cared for in the long term when the time comes.
As a Chair of Governors for a local authority special school, I see the incredible potential of children with SEND every single day. When they receive the right support, they thrive. But too often, their potential is left untapped.
We must act now. The Guardian’s reporting has brought national attention to this problem –with the right solution, we can secure a brighter future for children with SEND.
