To ask you to explain SEND funding and bankrupt councils to me?

[Myanna]

I've read a few articles like this one:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/feb/05/send-costs-bankrupt-english-local-authorities

But I don't understand why the cost of funding SEND is so high that it's going to potentially/actually make most councils insolvent.

It's not like provision is generous or easy to get, from what I've read (I don't have a child who is supported).

Were these kids previously just not supported in any way by the state and was it left to families to cope as best they could?
Are these kids who previously wouldn't have survived, but now do because of better medical care and therefore need a lot of help?
Is this private equity running enterprises and charging huge amounts to local authorities?
Is it just inflation and the cost of employing people?

I really don't know much about this at all but I'm sure many on here do, so I'd really welcome your knowledge.

How does that work then🤔

It doesn’t, it relies on the premise that our kids don’t learn things at school, when we both know that they do!

@nomas Schools don’t “babysit” disabled children, they teach them things that are relevant to their development.

EPs are highly qualified professionals, like solicitors and barristers. People don’t expect their conveyancer or house surveyor to do the work for £150. Local authorities have cut back on salaried EPs, so locum EPs have to fill the gap.

Wouldn't any other welfare claimant say the same?

If we run out of money I think there would be severe cuts across the board. No one or any service would be exempt.

"How does that work then🤔"

It means we keep them at home 24/7 and don't bother educating them.

I would think the poster means exactly as she said. Parents taking care of their own children both in terms of time and financially. No additional help.

Do you have any ideas for how we don’t “run out of money,” or how to make disabled people not cost anything?

That will result in huge numbers of parents becoming economically inactive and have a knock-on effect on the wider economy.

It's have a go at the most vulnerable time again.

Where do we draw the line? Cancer patients? Elderly care?

Yep its almost like its become a sport for some posters..

Potentially, but in many cases the overall cost to the state will be less than the cost of expensive placements. I'm not saying that this means this is the best approach but just that most SEN parents are low rate tax payers and even those that aren't often aren't paying enough tax to cover the costs of their children's additional needs.

It’s actually really boring. It’s like ableist Groundhog Day.

They all say the same completely uninformed things and then disappear into whatever ignorant hole they came from.

The current number is 5.4% and we were managing at 2.7%, so why reduce it to 1%? This whole cost-cutting exercise is going to cost the country far more in the long run, financially and emotionally.

@Myanna just to add to what others have said, in real terms on a 10 year comparison schools have less money to meet ever increasing needs and demands particularly since Covid. Society has changed but teachers training hasn't kept up and traditional approaches are less effective with many children. The only way schools can usually get more money to support SEN is via EHCPs, which are through the roof. And most LAs have not had effective strategic plans in place to develop a local continuum of provision to meet local needs. Basically a massive mess and catastrophic for LA budgets.

Neither are many single parents on benefits, prisoners
Pensioners who solely rely on state pension, s
But its always disabled children and their families who are seen as fair game for a good kicking.

"It’s actually really boring. It’s like ableist Groundhog Day."

'They should bring back institutions ' will be up again soon. With them still not getting that institutions were got rid of because they were expensive.

The only way to not run out of money is to introduce gradual cuts now or larger cuts imminently. The magic money tree is not infinite.

Ah but I do love a good DLA/ PIP thread where posters,always seem to know people who claim it with no evidence and theres absolutely nothing wrong with them and they also boast to all and sundry about it.

Okay.

If we’re cutting disability benefit, I’m assuming you’ll be okay if we cut your state pension, or how much we put into your elderly care?

After all, the cuts will need to be widespread, and we could always just put you in an institution so nobody has to really care for you.

5% of UK children have ADHD and 1.76% are autistic, so these estimates are not accurate.

All those people getting full PIP for a broken eyelash when it’s just taken me since last April to get HRC & HRM for my very disabled child?

Yes. Totally believable. 😂

Not meeting needs of disabled CYP costs more in the long term.

For example:
It can be the difference between someone needing a residential placement as an adult or not. Or a secure placement or not.
It can be the difference between needing 2:1 (or more) support or 1:1 as an adult.
It can be the difference between needing full-time care or support for only part of the time.
It can be the difference between someone being eligible for CHC as an adult or not.
It can be the difference between someone being a long term hospital patient as an adult or not.
It can be the difference between someone being in contact with the justice system or not.
It can be the difference between someone being in employment or not.
Even at a smaller level, it can be the difference between someone being eligible for SMI disregard or not or a concessionary travel pass or not or hospital transport or not…

I think there needs to be a threshold and many parents will need to take their of their own child instead of relying on school as a babysitter.

Do you think this of all parents/children or only those with SEN? Why do you think some DC aren’t entitled to an education? Why do you see education as babysitting? Do you realise it would increase other costs such as more parents pursuing support via social care and children’s continuing care funding/adult CHC funding, increased NHS costs and more parents reaching carer burnout?

It’s probably because many of these children are on NHS waiting lists of up to four years. Teachers can’t wait for formal diagnoses before making reasonable adjustments.

Yep i had to go to Tribunal for it with realms of evidence