Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Councils are grappling with significant financial pressures from special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services while implementing new reform plans.
Greenwich Council faces an £18.1 million schools funding shortfall, primarily from the High Needs Block, as discussed at a Cabinet meeting in September 2026. Redbridge Council projects a £17.352 million overspend on its Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2026/27, reported to Cabinet in September 2026, driven by increasing demand for SEND. Havering Council faces an estimated £45 million overspend in its DSG, mainly in the High Needs Block, as reported to Cabinet in September 2026.
Kingston upon Thames is unifying its SEND Reform Plan and SEND Futures Plan into a single strategic document, with the updated plan scheduled to launch in October 2026. Kingston schools are also facing a recruitment crisis for educational psychologists and occupational therapists, highlighted at a Schools Forum meeting in September 2026. Sutton's SEND services require priority action following an Ofsted and CQC review in September 2026, which identified issues with dysphagia pathways.
Lambeth Council is implementing a three-year SEND Reform Plan, discussed at a Children's Services Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting in September 2026. Harrow's Cabinet endorsed its SEND Reform Plan 2026-2029 in July 2026, and Lewisham submitted its Local SEND Reform Plan to the Secretary of State in June 2026. Greenwich's Schools Forum is scheduled to meet on October 7, 2026, where SEND funding issues may be discussed.
Key facts
- Kingston's updated SEND Futures Plan is scheduled to launch at a conference on October 15, 2026. Source
- Greenwich Council faces an £18.1 million schools funding shortfall, primarily from the High Needs Block, as of September 2026. Source
- Redbridge Council projects a £17.352 million overspend on its Dedicated Schools Grant for the 2026/27 financial year. Source
- Havering Council faces an estimated £45 million overspend in its Dedicated Schools Grant, mainly in the High Needs Block. Source
- Kingston's SEND Futures Plan saw 72% of annual review decisions made within four weeks in September 2026, up from 57% in 2025. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.