Council leaders warn that England’s system for supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities is close to breaking point, with rapidly rising demand and large financial deficits. The County Councils Network, representing many of the country’s biggest local authorities, says SEND-related deficits could reach £4.4bn annually by the end of the current parliament in 2029. They argue that the government must stop delaying reforms after a promised white paper was recently pushed back.

New figures from the Department for Education show a sharp increase in the number of Education Health and Care Plans, the legal documents that guarantee support for children with significant needs. There were 638,745 EHCPs in January 2025, an increase of 10.8% in a year. The number of new plans rose by nearly 16% to 97,747 in 2024. The CCN predicts that one in twenty children in England may require an EHCP by the end of the decade.

Councils are legally obligated to provide the support outlined in each plan, but they say increased demand is not the only pressure. A growing reliance on costly placements, including specialist and private schools, has pushed spending to record levels. The number of children in special schools in England has risen to around 194,000, compared with 109,000 a decade ago. The CCN estimates councils could be spending £8bn a year on such placements by 2030.

Families meanwhile say the system is already overwhelming, with many forced into lengthy battles with local authorities. Parents report having to pay for private assessments, legal advice, and tribunal hearings to secure the support their children need. They describe significant stress, financial strain, and the emotional burden of fighting for provisions they believe should be accessible.

The CCN is urging the government to write off SEND-related council deficits and consider changes to ensure EHCPs are targeted at children with the highest levels of need. However, proposed changes to EHCPs are politically sensitive. Campaigners and several MPs warn against diluting or removing the legal protections the plans provide. They argue that without EHCPs children risk losing essential support.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has not confirmed whether the government will alter the EHCP system. Some MPs say the delay to the white paper reflects disagreement within government about potential reforms, insisting that any weakening of EHCPs would face strong resistance and damage trust among families. The Conservatives have criticised the delay, saying it has created further uncertainty for parents.

Reform UK has signalled it will outline its own proposals soon, with senior figures suggesting that some families may be misusing the system—comments that have drawn criticism from parent groups.

The government says it inherited a system “on its knees” and is committed to improving inclusion in mainstream schools so more children can be supported locally. Ministers are focusing on early intervention, and officials have been meeting families across the country to gather feedback ahead of the reforms.

Labour MPs stress that changes must be backed by proper investment, including funding for specialist staff such as speech therapists, health visitors, and physiotherapists. Several MPs warn they cannot support reforms that prioritise cost-cutting over children’s needs. With the upcoming budget expected to be challenging, ministers face a difficult balance between financial pressures and the urgent need to stabilise the SEND system.