NAHT warns SEND funding cliff looms for councils

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has warned that councils face a financial “cliff edge” unless the government acts swiftly to address growing deficits in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) funding.

The call follows a new report by the Public Accounts Committee, which highlights the risk to local authority budgets when a temporary mechanism allowing councils to carry SEND deficits ends in March 2026.

The school leaders’ union advises that the issue must be resolved to protect councils’ ability to plan services and ensure support for children with SEND. 

NAHT has previously urged the government to write off councils’ high needs budget deficits, warning that without system-wide reform and investment, problems will persist.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary at NAHT, said: “Ultimately, this is an issue we simply must resolve – not only for councils and their ability to plan budgets and provision, but for the sake of children with special educational needs and the schools and other services involved in supporting them.

“If as expected, the government chooses to move towards a system in which more pupils are educated in mainstream settings, these schools – which currently face a postcode lottery in accessing extra money from councils for children with the greatest needs – will need significant new funding in their core budgets.”

He added: “We need a system in which support is driven by children’s needs, and the changes and investment needed to make that a reality cannot come soon enough for children, families, schools and councils.”