Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) deserve the same support and opportunities as every other child across the country. We need an inclusive and diverse education system that recognises the needs of every child, and to achieve that we need adequate funding and support for local authorities to be able to deliver a tailored public service.
Councils have been pushed to the brink after increasing demand on social care, and inadequate funding from the previous administration. Yes, it is true that demand for SEN provision has caused a financial strain on councils that are already on a weak footing. But, what is more important is that behind every one of those numbers is a child who is often not getting the outcomes they need.
In Government we are prioritising putting resilience back into the system so councils can build specialist support into the everyday function of public services. Specific to funding pressure for SEN, there has been an announced additional £440m in high-needs funding for the 2024–2025 academic year targeted at the rising costs. Councils shouldn’t be in a situation where they have to choose between which public service they can provide.
I am especially proud of the resilience and leadership Oldham Council has shown in this space. SEN funding in OWCR has had a 66% real terms increase in high needs block allocation between 2018-9, and 2025-26. Oldham Council has taken this funding support to focus on early intervention, equip schools with SEN coordinators, support specialist schools, and a collaborative approach with local health and social care services for holistic support.
We cannot forget that when financial pressures are biting hard, that we need to work towards a common goal of giving every child the best outcomes possible.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 