(UK) Kent: SPED deficit to rise to $182M by March; "massive and rising demand for SEND"
- The end of childhood
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Jan 19, 2026, Kent Online: Kent County Council’s special needs education overall deficit set to rise to £136m [$182M]
The overspend building up for the provision of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is set to rise to £136m by March.
This figure includes the £70m [$94M] deficit over the 2025-26 budget period, according to Kent County Council (KCC) papers.
The rising cost reflects the massive and rising demand for SEND and the shortfall in government funding to pay for it.
The previous Conservative administration, along with 37 other councils, signed up to the government’s five-year Safety Valve Agreement (SVA) in the 2022-23 financial year.
The scheme is aimed at helping authorities sitting on large SEND deficits by offering financial incentives while they get their affairs straight.
The Department for Education (DfE) makes additional contributions of £140m [$188M] to KCC, alongside the £82m [$110M] council contribution to pay off the accumulated deficit.
Papers due to go before the Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) cabinet committee on January 20 said the SVA has avoided the need to “otherwise impose up to £222m [$298M] of spending reductions” in the special needs sector.
KCC noted that although the government will take over SEND responsibilities from 2028, it is “still unclear” what will happen to legacy debts. . . .
The ruling Reform UK administration published a draft budget on January 8, setting the council tax rise at 3.99%.
It was widely acknowledged SEND and the soaring cost of adult social care would put most pressure on the council’s finances.
KCC Reform UK deputy leader Brian Collins said this week: “We realise the budget does not come without significant risk.”
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