Councils across England are sounding the alarm over a sharp rise in applications for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), warning the surge could plunge local authorities into unsustainable debt. With forecasts suggesting special educational needs and disability (SEND) support costs could balloon to a record £10 billion within 18 months, authorities fear the financial strain may force cuts to services. Despite recent government efforts to clear over £5 billion in historic SEND debts, the accelerating demand risks wiping out those gains by next April and doubling the deficit by 2028. Experts describe the situation as a looming crisis that could force difficult decisions on funding and support for vulnerable children.
Surge in EHCP applications poses risk to public finances and may lead to deteriorating levels of supportCouncils are warning of potentially “catastrophic” debts, which are forecast to reach a record £10bn over the next 18 months, as a result of rapid growth in demand for special educational needs and disability (Send) support in English schools.Although the government recently cleared more than £5bn in historic council Send debts, a surge in requests has led to authorities predicting they will have re-accrued that debt figure by April, and doubled it by 2028. Continue reading...
