Rising Special Education Costs Threaten Financial Stability of Councils: Report

The report said that despite the costs of supporting special education needs pupils having tripled, educational outcomes have not improved over the last decade.

File photo of a primary school pupil at work in a classroom on Feb. 8, 2012. PA

Local councils risk insolvency, driven by a sharp increase in demand for support for pupils with special education needs and disabilities (SEND), a report has found.

By 2026, councils are expected to be spending £12 billion on SEND services—up from £4 billion a decade ago—but will still be facing a £5 billion “funding black hole” due to demand, according to a report by Isos Partnership published on Thursday.