Last Thursday, the National Audit Office (NAO) released its report, Support for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs. Prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Gareth Davies, this report scrutinises the effectiveness and financial sustainability of the current SEN system.
Facts raised in the NAO report:
- 1.9 million: Estimated number of children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEN in January 2024.
- £10.7 billion: Department for Education’s (DfE) 2024-25 budget for SEN support.
- 69%: Proportion of young people with SEN at key stage 4 in sustained education, employment, or training after leaving 16 to 18 study in 2021/22, compared to 85% for those without SEN.
- 140%: Increase in the number of children with an education, health and care (EHC) plan from 2015 to 2024.
- 50%: Proportion of children waiting longer than 20 weeks for an EHC plan in 2023.
Current System Performance
The report highlights that since 2019, there has been no consistent improvement in outcomes for children and young people with SEN. The DfE’s objective to improve educational attainment and post-school outcomes has seen mixed results. In 2021/22, only 69% of those with SEN at key stage 4 were in sustained education, apprenticeship, or employment after leaving 16 to 18 study, compared to 85% for those without SEN.
Challenges
The report identifies several challenges within the SEN system:
- Inconsistent Quality and Capacity: There is significant variation in the quality of SEN support across different local authorities. Many children face long waiting times for assessments and support.
- Financial Unsustainability: The current system is financially unsustainable, with a growing cumulative deficit in the dedicated schools grant. The DfE estimates a central deficit of £4.6 billion by the end of 2025-26.
- Lack of Inclusivity in Mainstream Schools: Mainstream schools are not sufficiently inclusive, and there is a lack of incentives for schools to support children with SEN effectively.
Recommendations
The NAO makes several recommendations to address these challenges:
- Whole-System Reform: The government should consider comprehensive reforms to improve outcomes for children with SEN and ensure financial sustainability.
- Early Identification and Support: There should be a focus on identifying and supporting SEN needs earlier to prevent escalation.
- Integrated Approach: Develop a more integrated system with shared priorities and responsibilities across education, health, and social care sectors.
- Financial Planning: The DfE should work with local authorities to develop sustainable financial plans and address the cumulative deficits.
Conclusion
The report concludes that while the DfE has made efforts to improve the SEN system, significant challenges remain. The current system is not delivering value for money and is unsustainable. Urgent action is needed to ensure that the investment in SEN provision is used more effectively, with a focus on inclusivity, early intervention, and a whole-system approach.
For more detailed information, the full report is available on the National Audit Office website.
