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.

Can't the parents buy a hearing aid for their SEN child?

I mean it’s all very well talking about ‘moaning and whinging’ as a beneficiary of the money and the current system. The fact is the higher taxes you want to be imposed would be imposed on people who are barely making ends meet but are just above the threshold for help.

When you don’t work and are used to having everything free, subsidised or topped up, with payments just landing in your bank account, it’s easy to lose touch with how much life actually costs when there’s no benefits involved.

If you understood the ehcp process, you would know that an ehcp includes the outcomes expected for that child. The whole concept is based on having a realistic aspiration which might be 'to live independently' or to 'settle into residential care' or 'go to university' or 'get a job'.

Then they outline what"s stopping them from getting there ie their needs, then much more specific outcoms are listed which are steps to the aspiration. This could be anything from 'let a range of carers change catheter' to 'passes gcse maths' then they list provisions which will be how you get to the outcome, then who is going to do it and where.

You might think its a pointless helping a child learn to accept people other than their parent change a catheter, or for a child to learn to go from only using a wheelchair to an ambulatory user, or learning enough pecs to communicate basic needs - but these outcomes have huge impacts on quality of life and ongoing care costs.

It doesnt matter who you vote for you still have yo pay tax and all government, s despite what they say raise taxes.

I’ve never claimed benefits, except child benefit when I was under the threshold. I would be happy to pay higher taxes to allow for an inclusive society.

It wouldn’t result in an inclusive society though. We pay a lot now, and costs have increased, and it’s made virtually no difference.

What I am taking from this thread is that many parents are not prepared to look after their children both emotionally and financially. They think it is someone elses job.

That never used to be the case and it is very sad for the child.

In my LA most kids are transported by mini bus

Hearing aids are free for children. If you don’t think that’s fair, go ahead and write to your MP.

In mine, too.

Ours does it outside a certain radius. We live inside that radius so do our own school run.

What I’m taking from this thread is that some pp think they’re immune from disabilities and it couldn’t possibly happen to people like them.

Why has my post been hidden?

Why did you say 'with what money' then?

I said I dont think they should be free.

Some children will never be independent no matter how much money is spent. I met a woman , she was only 43 yet looked decades older, she was on her daily trip to the supermarket, she gets the bus there and back as she only has an hour free each day to get the shopping. She has a 21 year old son and an 19 year old son both significantly disabled. She has carers for them 4 times a day and thankfully they coordinate the lunchtime visit. The poor woman was a bit tearful as she said this would be her life for the rest of her life, she would be looking after her boys until she dies. She is so worried about what will happen when she does die.
Her life is so hard, she can't even go for a walk. what is the solution for both her and her Sons ?

Only if that also applies to parents of non disabled children who send their children to state schools and expect them to be educated according to the law that ALL children are entitled to a full time state education.

Full time care at some point
I am that mother BTW.

What do you think it is?

Because I can tell you that removing that woman’s access to education and care for her son’s, or the money to meet their needs, would not make her any less tearful and worried.

I said the money should be diverted to fund equipment such as wheelchairs and hoists. They are essential for some. Does that sound like I don't care.

IMO Glasses and hearing aids should not be funded.

Wheelchairs ARE funded for children. No different to glasses and hearing aids for children.

Why are wheelchairs essential for children who can't walk so should be funded but hearing aids aren't essential for children who can't hear so shouldn't be funded?

I’ve personally made a huge difference to the lives of disabled children and their families, so I think you’re making a sweeping generalisation. There are plenty of committed SEN specialists, SENCOs, teachers and teaching assistants, BSL interpreters, Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language therapists and support workers at work right now, changing people’s lives for the better. I find this portrayal of disabled people as useless and a burden to society very disturbing.

You have gone to the other extreme. Ok remove all schooling and make parents pay. At least the tax payer can use their saved tax to school their own child.

The Education Act 1870. All these years of affording education, and now we have people wanting to take the country back to the 19th century. So sad.

How do you know which children will be independent adults when they are children? Not every child's development is static.

Why is full independence the only thing worth striving for, and why can't we try and teach our children skills in their own learning style that gives them whatever autonomy and dignity they can attain?

It is sad for the woman you know. It is the case for many SEN parents. That schooling often provides some much needed respite for the parents and caregivers too and allows them to build a system for when they're no longer able to care for their children.