Andy Smith, President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said:

“It is widely known and accepted that the SEND system needs significant reform; a decade on from the 2014 reforms, there is growing frustration and record levels of parental dissatisfaction, despite record spending. SEND budget deficits now fundamentally threaten the financial stability of a growing number of local authorities when the accounting rules change next year.

“The number of children and young people being supported with EHCPs has grown exponentially over the last decade and while LAs have a duty to secure sufficient school places in our areas, under the last government we were unable to open new schools to respond to this rising need.

“The previous government’s centralisation of place planning via the use of the free schools programme contributed to the challenges now faced, a huge increase in EHCPs plus delays in the capital programme directly resulted in greater use of placements in the independent sector, as well as higher home to school transport costs.
“The new government’s Autumn Statement included £3.5 billion of school capital funding. It is vital that capital investment policy and decisions align with SEND policy and supports the direction of travel of increased inclusion in mainstream settings.

“ADCS continues to call for a reimagined, truly inclusive education system that allows the majority of children to be educated in mainstream settings alongside their peers.”