(UK) London boroughs facing $1.9B SPED debt by 2028-2029; 'struggle for schools to meet demand'

Jan 7, 2026, BBC News: Record number of London pupils need Send support 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y4e3dlx1ko

The number of children in the capital requiring special educational needs and disabilities (Send) support has reached record levels, analysis by BBC London has found.

Over the past decade, the number has jumped by nearly a third – from 205,309 in 2015-16 to 267,368 in 2024-25, Department for Education (DfE) figures show - as parents say are forced to fight for support and councils warn of mounting financial pressure.

Nichola - whose son Alistair is autistic, has ADHD and struggles in mainstream education - said she had "learnt more from strangers" than schools and councils on how to access support.

The DfE said it "inherited a Send system on its knees" and was working on reforms to fix it. . . .

The number of with children autistic spectrum disorder receiving support in London has increased by 158% from 17,832 in 2015-16 to 46,095 in 2024-2025, according to DfE data. . . .

London Councils – a cross-party body representing the capital's local authorities – said in June that almost half of all boroughs were at risk of bankruptcy over the financial pressure from increased Send funding demand.

The capital's 33 local authorities face a projected cumulative deficit due to Send spending from £487m [$665M] in 2024-25 to more than £1.4bn [$1.9B] in 2028-29.

Caroline Woodley, London Councils' lead for children and young people, stresses that councils are trying to respond through investment, early intervention and integrated support, but admits the system is inconsistent and under pressure.

"It's a real struggle for schools to meet that demand and for councils to step in when we also have our financial constraints," she said.

She added that they were trying to "undo decades of underinvestment and a lack of understanding" around Send provision.

While she welcomed a £3bn [$4B] investment from government to increase specialist places, Woodley said it would take time to roll out and ensure support was "happening in the right place at the right time".

A long-awaited government overhaul of Send provision in the Schools White Paper has been delayed multiple times but is due to be published imminently.

Catriona Moore, the policy manager at the Independent Provider of Special Education Advice, said there was a "crisis in the system" but any government reforms should not involve "watering down rights and making it harder for children to get the support they need".

"At the moment we have a system where children's rights are clear but not always upheld.

The solution is to make the system work as it should - not dismantle it," she said.

A DfE spokesperson said there would "always be a legal right to additional support," with funding increases planned and an emphasis on early intervention and mainstream inclusion.

"We are in the middle of extensive and important engagement with parents, schools and experts on how to fix it so it stands the test of time and delivers positive outcomes for all children," they said.