Major Funding Push to Expand SEND Support

The UK government has announced plans to create 50,000 additional places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in mainstream schools across England. The expansion will be backed by £3 billion in funding over the next three years, with part of the money coming from cancelling several previously planned free schools.

The move comes as demand for SEND support continues to rise, with nearly 1.7 million pupils currently receiving additional help in English schools—a figure that increases year on year.

Free School Projects Scrapped to Redirect Funding

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed that the government will halt the construction of 28 new mainstream free schools following a consultation process, while a further 16 proposed sites are still under review.

According to Phillipson, the decision reflects changing demographics and falling pupil numbers in some areas. Funds originally earmarked for these projects will instead be redirected toward improving SEND provision in existing schools.

“Where pupil numbers are declining, it makes sense to invest that money in better support for children with additional needs,” she said.

Local Authorities Given Greater Flexibility

Councils will control how the funding is used locally, allowing them to adapt current school buildings rather than relying solely on new construction. This could include creating specialist classrooms, sensory or breakout spaces, and tailored learning environments for pupils with autism, ADHD, or other needs.

The aim is to ensure children can attend schools closer to home, reducing the need for long and costly journeys. Local authorities spent around £1.5bn on SEND transport in 2023–24—more than double what was spent less than a decade ago.

Special Free Schools Still an Option

In addition to adapting mainstream schools, councils will still have the option to proceed with up to 77 proposed special free schools. Alternatively, they can choose to use the same funding to create an equivalent number of specialist places within existing settings.

Government officials say this flexibility will allow regions to respond more quickly to local demand rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions.

Political Reaction Divided

The decision to cancel some free schools has drawn sharp criticism from the Conservatives, who described the move as “education vandalism.”

Shadow education secretary Laura Trott argued that free schools have a strong track record and accused the government of removing projects parents wanted while replacing them with what she called an unclear alternative.

The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, welcomed the funding boost but said it must be accompanied by faster diagnosis and stronger early intervention to truly improve outcomes.

Concerns About Location and Staffing

Councillor Amanda Hopgood of the Local Government Association stressed that new SEND places must be built where families actually live.

“If provision is placed far from communities, transport costs rise and children are separated from their friends,” she said, warning that poor planning could undermine the investment.

School leaders have also cautioned that new buildings alone will not solve the SEND crisis. The NAHT headteachers’ union said success depends on having enough staff with specialist training to support pupils effectively.

Inside a School Using Integrated SEND Support

At Ninestiles Academy in Birmingham, around 50 students with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) spend most of their time in mainstream classes while accessing specialist support for the remainder of their timetable.

Principal Alex Hughes said demand for such places is high and welcomed the funding, but added that the real impact will depend on how resources reach individual schools.

A Parent’s Perspective

Fourteen-year-old Brendan attends Ninestiles and benefits from both full curriculum access and a specialist resource hub. His mother, Laura Jerram, says the pastoral support has been essential in keeping him in education.

However, she described the process of securing an EHCP as exhausting and unequal, noting that families with more resources often navigate the system more successfully. She believes earlier intervention could have prevented her son from missing large parts of primary school.

Charities Welcome Funding but Warn of Gaps

Speech and Language UK welcomed the announcement but warned that specialist spaces must function as centres of expertise, not just physical rooms. Chief executive Jane Harris said daily collaboration between trained teachers and speech and language therapists is essential.

Ambitious about Autism also praised the investment while highlighting persistent inequalities in access to support. Autism remains the most common primary need listed in EHCPs in England.

System Under Growing Strain

Despite increased spending in recent years, outcomes for SEND pupils have not significantly improved, according to the National Audit Office. Dissatisfaction among parents is growing, with SEND tribunal appeals reaching a record 25,000 cases in 2024–25—an 18% increase on the previous year.

Most disputes relate to the content and adequacy of EHCPs, underscoring deep-rooted challenges in the system.

What Happens Next

The cancelled free school projects will now enter a consultation phase. While plans by Eton College to open selective sixth-form centres in Dudley and Oldham have been approved, a similar proposal in Middlesbrough is expected to be dropped.

With SEND reforms due to be outlined in a schools White Paper early next year, the government says this funding marks the first step toward reshaping how England supports children with additional needs.