Financial experts have warned there is almost no way to assess whether the billions spent on England’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system represent value for money.
Funding for SEND has surged by £4bn since 2018, but legally binding Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) mean local authority deficits could reach £8bn by 2027, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
A briefing published today highlights the lack of centralised data on what EHCPs actually cover and points out that evidence suggests the quality of support is 'patchy.' It also warns that Government plans to provide more support within mainstream schools will require increased capacity, robust accountability, and cultural change.
Luke Sibieta, IFS research fellow and co-author of the briefing, said reform could be costly — but added that 'the status quo isn’t free either.'
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