Gov invests £740m to expand school places for children with SEND

The government has announced that 10,000 new school places will be funded for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), delivering on Plan for Change, through a £740m investment. The investment will be used by the government to deliver adaptations, expand specialist units in mainstream as well as create new places in special schools – enabling more children to succeed at a school close to their homes and families. Fewer than one in 10 mainstream schools have SEN units or resourced provision - specialist facilities which provide more intensive support for pupils with SEND. Between 2010 to 2024, the number of children with Education, Health and Care plans or their previous equivalent being educated in independent special schools increased from 7,000 to 26,000 – while the latest data released today shows an escalating gap of 8,000 places in state special schools. The funding can be used to ensure an inclusive environment in which all pupils can be supported, for example by creating breakout spaces where children can go to self-regulate or investing in assistive technology. This comes alongside a £1bn investment to fund 44,500 places in mainstream schools needed by 2028, helping meet current and future demand across the country. Bridget Phillipson, education secretary, said: “As part of our Plan for Change, we want every family to have access to a good local school for their child, breaking the link between children’s background and their opportunities in life. This investment is a big step towards delivering not only enough school places, but the right school places, supporting all children and particularly those with SEND, and plugging the significant gaps in provision we inherited. “This investment will give children with SEND the support they need to thrive, marking the start of a turning point for families who have been fighting to improve their children’s outcomes.” The announcement comes as new data shows the need to reform the SEND system, to save families from a gap in support potentially stretching to tens of thousands of places. Sarah Clarke and Jo Harrison, directors and co-chairs for the National Network of Parent Carer Forums C.I.C, said: “The NNPCF welcomes the government’s commitment of £740m in capital funding for the 2025–26 financial year to support the creation of school places for children and young people with SEND. For too long, families have faced limited options and long waits for appropriate support. Creating more inclusive environments—where children and young people with special educational needs can thrive alongside their peers—is a positive step forward. “We look forward to continued collaboration with the Department for Education to ensure that parent carers’ voices remain central to the development and implementation of these plans. We also hope that local authorities will work closely with their local Parent Carer Forums to ensure the lived experience and voices of parent carers are at the heart of local delivery.” The reform to the SEND system will look to ensure that children’s needs are identified and met earlier, and that early years and staff in mainstream settings across the country are equipped and supported to be inclusive of all children. And in line with new guidance, over the coming years local authorities can use their capital funding for children with SEND to create places in local, mainstream schools – putting an end to the desperate battle to find a place that meets families’ needs. Amanda Allard, director at the Council for Disabled Children, National Children’s Bureau, said: “We welcome the announcement on how this investment can be used and the focus on Local Authorities supporting schools to ensure that disabled children and young people, and those with special educational needs, can have their needs met in inclusive local schools. “We know from our work with local areas, and through the What Works in SEND programme, that there is some very effective practice across the country, and we encourage local areas to share and learn from this as they develop inclusive provision which enables children and young people to learn, develop friendships and be part of their community.