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by Jess Gibson

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision in England requires urgent reform, according to a report released by the Public Accounts Committee. 

The publication, Support for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs, was published today following the Public Accounts Committee’s inquiry into SEND provision in England, which closed in November 2024.  

The final report concludes that the Department for Education’s (DfE) existing SEND system is “inconsistent, inequitable and not delivering in line with expectations”. 

Long waiting times for support and a lack of access to SEND expertise have undermined parents’ confidence in the system, according to the report, while a 140% increase in children’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans between 2015 and January 2024 has added further strain to what it calls a “struggling system”.  

The report also highlighted other concerns, including: 

• The DfE’s lack of data and targets, as well as a clear, costed plan, to help reform the system. 

• No clear understanding in the DfE of what is meant by ‘inclusive education’, a core strand of its approach, or how it will be achieved. 

• The lack of financial sustainability of the current system. 

The Public Accounts Committee also provides a number of recommendations to address these concerns. A key recommendation is to increase the DfE’s cooperation with local authorities, the Department for Health and Social Care, and the Ministry of Justice to better understand the reasons behind increased demand for support and help identify SEND needs earlier. 

Read the Public Accounts Committee report’s conclusions and recommendations in more detail . 

Commenting, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “The immensity of this situation cannot be overstated. As a nation, we are failing countless children. We have been doing so for years. At the same time, we are creating an existential financial risk for some local authorities, caused by that same failing system.  

“This report must serve as a line in the sand for Government. Every day that goes by for families not receiving the right support is another day closer to a lost generation of young people.” 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: “The Public Accounts Committee is absolutely right to call on the government to take urgent action to improve the SEND system. However, if the severe challenges highlighted in this report are to truly to be addressed, we’re clear that a focus on the early years must be at the heart of any reforms.  

“Early educators are extremely committed to supporting children with SEND, but they continue to face a system that is underfunded, overly complex and, frankly, entirely unfit for purpose. As a result, many providers warn of being unable to sustainably deliver provision, meaning that families are losing out on much-needed targeted support.     

“We know that the earlier a child is able to receive the additional support they need, the greater the impact this will have on their learning and development. With the government naming SEND as a key priority for 2025, it is critical that the early years plays a central role in this. As it stands, the situation that children, families and providers are faced with is entirely unacceptable."