A report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reveals a £3.5 billion increase in school spending over the past decade due to rising special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support. The current funding system doesn't adequately address the growing number of pupils with education, health, and care plans (EHCPs).

Since 2016, the proportion of children with EHC plans in schools has increased from 2.8% to 4.3%, a 50% rise. Although the high-needs budget is only 15% of total school spending, the £3.5 billion increase since 2015 has taken up nearly half of the overall rise in school spending. The IFS stresses the need for more effective and financially sustainable ways to meet these needs.

This spending surge is largely due to a near-doubling in pupils with autistic spectrum disorders, speech and language needs, and social, emotional, and mental health needs, straining school budgets. The rise accelerated during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, with about 95,000 more pupils receiving EHC plans in 2022/23 compared to three years earlier. This increase is more notable among less disadvantaged pupils, as schools and local authorities ration support to control costs.

Appeals to SEND tribunals, mainly about EHC plans, have nearly tripled to over 14,000 per year, with a 98% success rate, indicating many initially denied families and children qualify for support. However, disadvantaged children, who may lack resources to appeal, often remain without needed support.