Hillingdon has seen a significant improvement in its support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), according to a recent update presented to the Children, Families and Education Select Committee. The update highlights a reduction in the growth of Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) and positive outcomes in service delivery. The council maintains a sharp focus to continue to reduce the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) High Needs Block deficit earlier than forecasted. Some of the full impact of savings will be seen from 2025/26 onwards, due to the lag between the implementation of service improvements and the benefit realisation in cash terms.
Abi Preston, Director of Education & SEND, presented the update on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to the committee on Wednesday 30 July 2025. The DSG is a ring-fenced grant used to fund education-related services, including support for children with SEND.
One of the most significant achievements has been strengthening early intervention, which has provided pre-statutory support and funding routes for children. This has slowed the growth of EHCPs, leading to a lower number of plans than expected and providing cost-effective provision for children with SEND needs. The report on the DSG update states that The most significant improvement achieved has been in strengthening early intervention. This has benefited children and settings with pre-statutory support and funding routes.
Key EHCP highlights from the latest published SEN2 2025 data (reporting for the 2024 calendar year period) include:
- A net growth of EHCPs of -1% during 2024, a significant reduction compared to 7% in 2023 and 8% in 2022.
- Compliance with statutory timelines for the Education Health Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) journey to EHCP is above national averages, with 90.8% compliance in 2024 compared to 56.5% in 2023. The London average is 66.9%, and the national average is 46.4%. Every step of the EHCNA journey to EHCP in Hillingdon is above national, and in some cases significantly.
- Lower absence rates for SEND children compared to national figures, as well as approximately 50% fewer suspensions. Hillingdon is below national for SEND children absences, persistent absence, authorised and severely absent, as well as approximately 50% lower for suspensions compared to national figures.
- 0% permanent exclusions, compared to 0.2% in London and 0.04% nationally.
The positive outcomes in service delivery have resulted in a stronger financial position for Hillingdon's DSG. The DSG deficit as of the end of March 2025 is £65.71m, an 11% improvement on the forecast position before the start of the Safety Valve programme in 2022/23. The Safety Valve programme has contributed to this improvement.
The committee noted the improved DSG High Needs Block financial status and the Department for Education's recognition of the SEND progress achieved.
