Overview
- The Budget confirms SEND funding will move from councils to the Department for Education in 2028-29, with the Treasury stating councils will not be expected to cover future costs from general funds once the statutory override ends in 2027-28.
- The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates a £6.3 billion cost in 2028-29, rising to about £9 billion by 2030-31 under current policy.
- The OBR says no savings have been identified to offset the new pressure and warns meeting it from within the DfE’s £69 billion core schools budget would cut mainstream funding per pupil by 1.7% in real terms instead of a planned 2.4% increase.
- Historic SEND deficits on council books could reach around £14 billion when the override expires, with the OBR warning many local authorities would be very likely to issue section 114 notices without a solution.
- School leaders and education groups urge ministers not to cut classroom budgets, while further details are due at December’s provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and a schools white paper in January.