Issue

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

59 stories · discussed at 43 council meetings · 29 councils

Councils are addressing significant financial pressures and implementing reforms to improve support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Several councils are reporting significant financial pressures related to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), which refers to additional support for children with learning difficulties or disabilities. Greenwich Council faced an £18.1 million schools funding shortfall in September 2026, largely from the High Needs Block. Redbridge Council projected a £17.352 million overspend on its Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) in September 2026, driven by increasing demand and complexity of needs. Havering Council faced an estimated £45 million DSG overspend in September 2026, with Barnet Council facing a £13.3 million DSG deficit in July 2026.

In response, councils are advancing SEND reform plans. Islington Council committed £1.56 million to its SEND reforms for 2026-27, funding initiatives like 'Experts at Hand' and workforce development. Kingston upon Thames unified its SEND Reform Plan and SEND Futures Plan into a single strategic document, scheduled to launch in October 2026. Lambeth Council unveiled a three-year SEND Reform Plan in September 2026, focusing on the Experts at Hand model, inclusion bases, and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health support. Harrow's Cabinet endorsed its SEND Reform Plan 2026-2029 in July 2026.

Other challenges include a persistent attendance gap for vulnerable pupils, including those with SEND, reported by Islington Council in October 2026. Kingston schools faced a recruitment crisis for educational psychologists and occupational therapists in September 2026, hindering support. Sutton's SEND services received priority action in September 2026 following an Ofsted and CQC review that identified delays in accessing specialist assessment. Looking ahead, the Greenwich Schools Forum will meet on October 7, 2026, and the Enfield Healthy and Safe Communities Scrutiny Panel on October 12, 2026, to discuss SEND.

Key facts

  1. Islington Council committed £1.56 million to its SEND reforms for 2026-27. Source
  2. Greenwich Council faced an £18.1 million schools funding shortfall in September 2026. Source
  3. Redbridge Council projected a £17.352 million overspend on its Dedicated Schools Grant in September 2026. Source
  4. Kingston upon Thames' unified SEND plan was scheduled to launch at a conference on October 15, 2026. Source
  5. Sutton's SEND services received priority action in September 2026 following an Ofsted and CQC review. 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 3 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 8

  1. Greenwich Council Faces £8.87M Deficit in Dedicated Schools Grant, Submits Recovery Plan Greenwich Council's Schools Forum has reported an £8.87 million deficit in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) as of 31 March 2025. The forum met on Wednesday 16 July 2025 to... Greenwich 20 July 2025
  2. Bromley Schools Face £7.3M Overspend, SEN Costs a Key Driver Bromley schools are facing a significant financial challenge, with a projected £7.3 million overspend, primarily driven by the rising costs of special educational needs (SEN).... Bromley 17 July 2025
  3. Redbridge Schools Face £5.1M Deficit in Special Needs Funding Redbridge schools are facing a significant financial challenge, with a projected £5.1 million deficit in funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for the... Redbridge 12 July 2025