Mainstream schools in England are set to receive increased upfront funding next year to better accommodate students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), aiming to streamline support and reduce delays for families. Under current arrangements, schools must initially cover up to £6,000 per SEND pupil before applying for additional top-up funding, a process that can leave families waiting months for necessary resources.
The government’s proposed changes would allow local councils to raise this £6,000 threshold—unchanged since 2013 and significantly eroded by inflation—enabling schools to have more SEND funding built into their budgets from the outset. This shift is intended to reduce schools’ reliance on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), legal documents establishing the level of support a child is entitled to, which are often a gateway to extra funding. The demand for EHCPs has increased sharply, creating backlogs that can delay access to support for up to 20 weeks and potentially limit inclusion in mainstream education.
By allowing councils to propose higher thresholds specific to their needs, with evidence-based justifications submitted to the Department for Education, the reforms aim to cut through bureaucratic hurdles. This would enable schools to provide earlier interventions for pupils with moderate needs, such as learning support or speech and language therapy, without necessarily requiring an EHCP to secure funding.
Though councils do have the authority to allocate top-up funding to pupils without EHCPs, fiscal pressures mean they usually reserve such funding for those formally recognized under an EHCP. The proposed adjustments do not increase the overall budget for SEND education but are intended to improve access and planning by giving schools greater certainty over available resources.
The payments under the new system would begin flowing to maintained schools from April 2027, while academies would receive the funding from September 2027. Anna Bird, chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, welcomed the proposals, noting that they could help schools plan more effectively and offer support at an earlier stage.
The Department for Education declined to comment on the consultation details. Meanwhile, some parents have expressed concerns that despite the changes, provisions may still fall short of meeting all children’s needs as the government promotes greater inclusion of SEND pupils in mainstream settings in an effort to curb rising costs related to EHCPs and specialist placements.