Why is there a crisis in special educational needs?
Mar 13, 2025
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David Thomas, a former headteacher and the CEO of Axiom Maths, delves into the pressing issues surrounding special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). He discusses the alarming rise in autism and ADHD diagnoses, which have surged by 780% in recent years. Thomas highlights the funding crisis facing local councils and the challenges parents face in securing adequate support for their children. He also examines Scotland's effective strategies for SEND, advocating for improved teacher training and collaboration to enhance educational outcomes.
The significant rise in diagnoses of conditions like autism and ADHD has led to a funding crisis, overwhelming local councils' budgets for SEND support.
Parents are increasingly struggling to navigate the SEND system, often facing legal battles to secure necessary support for their children due to systemic inefficiencies.
Deep dives
Rising Demand for Special Educational Needs Support
The recent significant increase in the number of children requiring support for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has put immense pressure on public spending. The proportion of students receiving Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) has nearly doubled since 2017, rising from 2.8% to 4.8%, equating to around 430,000 children in the UK. Factors contributing to this surge include rising diagnoses of conditions such as autism and ADHD, alongside an increasing awareness of parents regarding their rights and entitlements to support. Despite this awareness, many parents struggle to navigate the system, often feeling compelled to resort to legal means to secure necessary support, indicating systemic inefficiencies.
Financial Strain on Local Councils
The financial burden imposed by SEND has escalated sharply, currently costing local councils around £11 billion annually, a substantial increase from approximately £6.5 billion just a few years ago. This growing expense occupies roughly one-fifth of the overall education budget, leading councils to incur significant deficits as costs surpass their allocated funding. The introduction of more inclusive laws, such as the 2014 Children and Families Act, aimed to improve access to education for children with special needs, but funding has not kept pace with demand. Consequently, many councils remain unable to fulfill their legal obligations, resulting in a crisis impacting both children and local government finances.
Calls for Systemic Reform and Improved Outcomes
The current SEND system is criticized for its inefficiencies and lack of coherence across different regions, leading to a highly adversarial experience for parents and educators alike. Many stakeholders express the need for reforms that would shift the focus from a largely bureaucratic system to one that is collaborative and evidence-based, reducing the necessity for parents to 'fight' for support. Lessons from Scotland's approach, which involves more mainstream support rather than special schools, highlight potential paths forward. Achieving positive outcomes for SEND children requires reassessing funding models and implementing support frameworks rooted in proven effectiveness, alongside better training for educators.
There’s huge pressure on special educational needs and disabilities, known as SEND. The number of children and young people who need extra support has rocketed as more and more are diagnosed with autism, adhd and other mental health conditions. It’s led to a funding crisis which is putting a strain on council budgets which pay for the extra help. But it isn't just a financial issue - parents say they are struggling to access the right support for their children. So what’s gone wrong and what can be done about it?
Guests:
Branwen Jeffreys, BBC Education Editor
WIll Farr, Cambridge University Faculty of Education
Tony Travers, Associate Dean LSE School of Public Policy
Luke Sibieta, Institute for Fiscal Studies
David Thomas, Former Head Teacher and CEO Axiom Maths
Presenter: David Aaronovitch
Producers: Beth Ashmead Latham, Kirsteen Knight and Caroline Bayley
Sound Engineer: Rod Farquhar
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Richard Vadon
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