Warning signs of a system under pressure
Local councils across England say the country’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system is approaching a tipping point. In recent months, authorities have reported long waiting times, rising backlogs, and worsening outcomes for children who rely on tailored support to access education and daily life services. The concerns come as councils push for more funding, clearer national standards, and better collaboration with schools, health services, and the Department for Education (DfE).
The core of the problem, councils argue, is a mismatch between rising demand and available resources. More children are being identified as having SEND, while budgets have not kept pace with the scale of additional support, sending local teams into a cycle of stretched staffing and delayed provisions.
