SEND Reform: A Breaking Point for School Budgets?

Introduction

SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision is one of the biggest challenges facing schools today.

And in 2026, the pressure is reaching critical levels.

Recent reports show:

• SEND demand has risen sharply over the past decade

• Costs have surged to over £10 billion annually

• Many local authorities are facing severe financial strain

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-overhaul-special-needs-education-costs-spiral-2026-02-22/

The reality for schools

For primary and secondary schools, this translates into:

• Increased staffing pressures

• Budget reallocation

• More complex support requirements

And for MATs, the challenge is multiplied across multiple schools.

A system under strain

There are now hundreds of thousands of pupils with EHCPs in England, with reforms expected to roll out over the next decade.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/23/monday-briefing-will-the-new-send-reforms-work-for-englands-children

At the same time, leaders warn the system is becoming financially unsustainable.

Where better systems help

While schools can’t control national policy, they can control how they manage resources.

Key areas where schools can regain control:

• Tracking SEND-related spend across schools

• Managing contracts for external providers

• Monitoring funding allocations vs actual costs

Final thought

SEND isn’t just a funding issue, it’s an operational one.

Schools that gain clarity over their data will be in a far stronger position to respond to whatever reforms come next.