Special needs spending will rise over next few years, ministers say

Ministers say spending on support for pupils with special educational needs will increase for several years and is expected to return to current levels by 2035; a schools white paper announces SEND reforms with an extra £4 billion and a phased rollout subject to consultation.

Ministers have acknowledged that spending on support for pupils with special educational needs will continue to rise in the coming years despite new plans to change the system. The government published a schools white paper that says costs will keep increasing before returning to today's levels by 2035. The number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans has doubled since 2014, which officials say has strained local budgets. The paper outlines reforms that shift more routine support to schools and reserve EHCPs for the most profound needs. Key points: - Ministers announced that special needs spending will increase over the next few years and is expected to return to current levels by 2035. - The white paper includes an additional £4 billion to support the proposed changes, the Education Secretary said. - Eligibility for Education, Health and Care Plans will be tightened so that only pupils with the most profound needs are routinely awarded EHCPs, while other support is to be provided at school level. - The reforms are to be phased in over about five years and are subject to consultation; officials said the changes will take time to affect EHCP numbers. Summary: The announcement means budget pressures are likely to continue in the near term while the new SEND framework is introduced. The white paper starts a consultation and sets a phased rollout over several years, and political debate is expected as the plans move through implementation.