The UK’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) system is in turmoil. A recent House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report has exposed the reality many parents, teachers, and support staff already know: the system is overstretched, underfunded, and failing the very children it was designed to support. As concerns grow over the future of Special Educational Needs in the UK, there is increasing pressure on policymakers to address these critical shortcomings and ensure that every child receives the support they need.
Despite a 58% increase in SEN funding over the last decade—now reaching £10.7 billion—demand has far outpaced available resources. The number of children with Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plans has skyrocketed 140% since 2015, reaching 576,000 in January 2024, and 1.14 million students now require SEN support in mainstream schools.
The consequence? Long delays, inconsistent support, and an adversarial system where parents must fight for their child’s right to an education.
A Broken System: The Key Issues
The Battle for Support
For many families, accessing SEN support is essentially a postcode lottery. Only 50% of EHCPs* were issued within the legal 20-week timeframe in 2023, with some councils issuing as little as 1% on time, while others managed 100%.
*An Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legally binding document that outlines the educational, healthcare, and social support a child with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is entitled to. EHCPs were introduced in 2014 to replace the older ‘Statements of SEN’ and are designed to ensure children receive the right support in schools and local authorities. However, obtaining one has become an increasingly difficult process, with long delays and inconsistent decisions from councils.
This delay often forces parents into a gruelling appeals process, with 15,600 cases filed in 2023—a dramatic rise from 6,000 in 2018. Shockingly, 98% of tribunal appeals ruled in favour of parents, proving local authorities frequently fail to make the right decisions initially. A damning point on the system of Special Educational Needs in the UK
A Financial Meltdown for Local Authorities
Local councils are in financial freefall, spending far beyond their allocated SEN budgets. The system’s cumulative deficit is projected to hit £4.6 billion by 2026, pushing 43% of local authorities to the brink of bankruptcy.
The government’s temporary “statutory override”, which has allowed councils to defer these debts, expires in March 2026. Without urgent intervention, local authorities may collapse under the financial strain, worsening a frankly already dire situation.
Health Services: Another Bottleneck
The crisis extends beyond education. 40,000+ children were waiting over 12 weeks for speech and language therapy in June 2024, and many face years-long delays for autism and ADHD assessments.
Within the NHS’s 32 key priorities, only two relate to SEN, which reflects a lack of integrated support between health and education services.
Inclusive Education: More Talk Than Action
The Children and Families Act 2014 aimed to promote inclusivity in mainstream schools, yet little progress has been made. The government has failed to define inclusivity, leaving schools without clear guidance.
Teachers often feel ill-equipped to meet the needs of SEN students, with only 56% reporting confidence in supporting them. Meanwhile, spending on independent SEN placements has surged to £2 billion, a near doubling since 2018, unfortunately showcasing how mainstream schools are struggling to provide adequate support.
A Personal Perspective: The Reality Behind the Numbers
Statistics can only tell part of this story – I’ve seen firsthand the immense strain the system is under as a Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant. The challenges go beyond just funding figures—they deeply impact the children, the staff, and the learning environment itself.
I worked in a class with a mix of additional needs, ranging from autism to severe behavioural challenges. These two groups had very different support needs, yet they were taught together due to a lack of resources. This often led to a chaotic learning environment, where children with behavioural issues would disrupt those with genuine learning difficulties and disabilities, making meaningful learning incredibly challenging.
Despite the immense challenges, my colleagues remained dedicated professionals, tirelessly performing a demanding job for unacceptably low wages. I saw highly skilled and passionate SEN workers leave the sector for jobs in supermarkets, simply because they offered better pay and a less stressful environment. When staff feel undervalued, retention becomes impossible, with the resulting victims being the children—who lose the stability, expertise, and support they desperately need. If we are to address the crisis in the UK’s SEN education, better pay is essential to keep experienced professionals in the field and to encourage passionate young people to pursue and remain in this vital work.
There is a deep lack of appreciation for the work SEN staff do, causing disillusionment amongst staff. These are people changing lives daily, yet they are overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. There is a recruitment and retention crisis of SEN staff in the UK and the system will not change until they are given the support & appreciation, they deserve.
What Needs to Change?
The House of Commons report made several recommendations for urgent reforms to Special Educational Needs in the UK:
- End the postcode lottery: Standardise decision-making across local authorities.
- Earlier intervention: Provide group-based support instead of forcing parents into the EHC plan appeals process.
- Define inclusive education: Establish clear expectations for how mainstream schools should accommodate SEN students.
- Sustainable funding: Fix the financial model before councils collapse.
- Health and education collaboration: Reduce waiting lists for speech therapy, autism assessments, and mental health services.
In addition, we would urge the government to improve the financial incentives for staff in the education sector to aid in the recruitment and retention crisis.
Is there hope from a New Administration?
The new education secretary, Bridgett Phillipson has said that the system was “neglected to the point of crisis” by the previous government. However, the jury is still out on how the situation with SEN will unfold under the new administration’s tenure.
The government’s recent announcement of £740 million in additional funding for SEN provision in mainstream schools is a much-needed step in addressing the crisis facing special educational needs in the UK. By adapting classrooms, improving accessibility, and creating specialist facilities within mainstream settings, this funding could help ease the pressure on oversubscribed special schools and offer more children the support they need closer to home.
However, while this initiative is a positive move, it is far from a complete solution. The severe shortage of special school places remains a critical issue, leaving many families fighting for appropriate placements. Simply increasing SEN provision in mainstream schools does not necessarily mean that those schools will have the staff training, resources, and expertise to meet the needs of children with complex requirements. Without substantial investment in specialist teacher training & retention as well as long-term support for local authorities, mainstream inclusion could risk continuing to be a well-intentioned but ineffective policy, where children with additional needs are placed in unsuitable environments due to a lack of alternatives.
The government’s commitment to reform is clear, and this funding is a welcome sign that they are taking action. But as many experts and educators have pointed out, this must be just the beginning. Families need assurances that their children will receive high-quality, tailored support, not just a seat in a classroom.
The UK is at a critical juncture in addressing the needs of students with special educational needs. Balancing increased demand with sustainable funding, effective policy reforms, and adequate support in both mainstream and specialised settings is essential to ensure inclusive and high-quality education for all students.
Navigating Special Educational Needs in the UK with Confidence
While the sector’s challenges are undeniable, there are still excellent schools and dedicated SEN departments providing outstanding support. However, these schools are becoming increasingly rare as financial and systemic pressures mount. Finding the right environment for a child with SEN is more difficult than ever, but the right support can make all the difference.
At Lumos Education, we specialise in helping families navigate the complexities of SEN education. Whether you need guidance on choosing the best school, securing an EHC plan, or understanding your child’s rights, our team is here to help.
Every child deserves an education that meets their needs—let us help you find it. Please contact us for expert advice tailored to your family’s situation.
Moses Hookway
