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A Growing Challenge for Education and Local Authorities

A classroom with a teacher at the front of the class talking to the children who are sat in their seats.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) affect how children and young people learn. This can include difficulties with behaviour, socializing, making friends, reading and writing, understanding concepts, concentration, ADHD, autism, and even physical disabilities.

Local councils and authorities are responsible for ensuring every child receives an education. But here’s the challenge: diagnoses of conditions like ADHD and autism have surged in recent years. While this means more children are getting the help they need, it also puts enormous pressure on local authorities—both in terms of resources and funding.

One key part of the process is the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which outlines the support a child needs. Due to the surge in children needing support, there’s now a backlog of EHCPs. Many children are waiting for plans, leaving some out of school because the right support isn’t in place. Schools and councils are struggling to cope, especially with tight budgets.

Council leaders warn that without action; the SEND system could face a deficit of £18 billion by 2029—a staggering figure that risks total collapse. A government white paper was expected to address these issues this autumn, but it’s been delayed until early 2026, leaving families and educators in limbo.

The white paper is built on five principles:

  1. Early Help – Support should start sooner to ease pressure later.
  2. Local – Children should learn close to home.
  3. Fair – Schools need resources to meet predictable needs.
  4. Effective – Grounded in evidence and best practice.
  5. Shared – Health, education, and local services working together.

The delay means uncertainty continues. For now, the sector faces an uphill battle—balancing rising demand with shrinking budgets. There is a little hope that when the white paper finally arrives, it will bring practical solutions to protect the future of SEND education, but that’s something we’ll have to wait and see for ourselves.

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

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