Special Education Services in England on the Brink of Collapse
Special educational needs and disability (Send) services in England are being pushed into a severe financial crisis due to rapidly increasing demand. According to a comprehensive report published by the County Councils Network (CCN), rising applications and the high costs of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) could drive 59 local authorities to effective bankruptcy by 2028.
Data shows that the number of EHCPs reached 638,000 in the 2024–25 period, and this figure is expected to rise to 840,000 by 2028–29. This rapid increase has pushed the system far beyond its intended capacity. Families are increasingly facing an adversarial environment during assessment and support processes, with autism, learning difficulties, social-emotional challenges, and speech and communication disorders making up the majority of cases.
March 2028 is viewed as a critical turning point for the system, as the temporary financial provision that allows SEND debts to be kept off local authority balance sheets will expire on that date. Adding these debts back onto the books could render many councils financially non-functional overnight. Experts warn that unless the government swiftly takes action—either by writing off the debts or undertaking structural reforms—England may face an “unprecedented local government crisis.”