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.

@SleeplessInWherever the Not on the High Street stuff doesn't stain child or bath incredibly! But do not talk to me about the shredded rose petals they included in the kit. Just do not.

You've actually made me want some "wockett" for myself though 😂

We consider ourselves VERY lucky to have a deaf neighbour one side and two even more extra kids the other.

I wouldn’t worry about it. I’ve just reheated lasagne for a child who wanted lasagne, but actually meant toast. My crystal ball and spidey senses weren’t working either.

Best communicated by throwing pasta at the walls, obviously.

Kids in the 2000s were often perm exed and forgotten about or voted with their feet and forgotten about.

There isn't the support for children before they hit crisis either.

Isn't that where everybody keeps their pasta?

A shower might not have been better anyway.

DS1 hates baths. It sounds like he is being tortured. He hates showers even more. The water hitting skin is like being “stabbed by a gazillion needles”.

We have understanding neighbours thankfully. Or they have never said anything anyway.

Lets just say that he hates to be woken up in the night for meds or to be changed. He's rarely quiet about it.

I've worked with a child who ended up in a 300k a year placement. 400 miles from home. Joint funded by social care and education. It was a secure unit and child was raising a lot of red flags of very very high risk behaviour towards others. You don't end up with that sort of placement unless you absolutely have to.

Would an institution be more appropriate for dangerous children such as this. I presume, we're taking about Jonty Bravery or Axel Rudakubana type concerns?

There seems to be a knee jerk reaction against institutions on this thread, but I think they are entirely appropriate for those that pose a serious threat to individuals and wider society.

My son isn't keen on a bath but hes rather to fond on a shower not the washing bit of course but he loves the shower he could spend hours under wetting and soaking the whole bathroom unfortunately
We have an OT coming around on Thursday to recommend a wet room.

An ‘institution’ wouldn’t be any cheaper, though - unless you want to return to the days of disabled children being locked up and tied to their beds. Which I assume you don’t.

We love our wet room. Fingers crossed OT can help with that.

It was a must have for us and OT really helped us.

I hope the OT helps and you aren’t waiting too long for the wet room.

We have a rise and fall bath and specialist bath seat for DS1 instead of a wet room. Couldn’t manage without.

If it’s a simple education then their parents can provide it surely? They don’t need specialist teaching?

I'd be entirely comfortable with Jonty Bravery or Axel Rudakubana being tied to their beds and I'm pretty shocked that Jonty Bravery gets a 3:1 staffing level and is free to attack staff - why isn't he restrained or sedated? Rudakubana should be rotting in solitary, rather than assaulting prison staff.

But, as a rule, no I wouldn't want disabled children to be tied to their beds - but I also don't think that children so violent that they require 4:1 staffing ratios should be receiving £500k a year of 'care' when they could be managed much more easily, and with far less risk to society, in a secure environment (institution?).

Can parents replicate the teaching provided at a school like this? www.glynegap.org

It isn’t “a simple education”. Specialist staff, not just teachers, are required.

You understand what I’m saying.

And I don’t know what Axel Rudakubana has to do with anything as he is a non-disabled violent criminal and is very rightly locked up in Belmarsh.

Medical advancements keeping children alive who previously might have perished. Is one factor I believe.

I don't, could you spell it out for me?

Why?

He was diagnosed with autism in 2021.

Because one person can’t be a teacher, TA/LSA, SALT, OT, EP, physio, CP, ToD, QTVI, nurse…

Why can't all parents just home educate? No state education at all.

• Provide a Valid Reason: MNHQ is more likely to remove content if you have a "pressing reason," such as privacy concerns, having revealed too much personal information ("outed" yourself), or being bullied/abused.

How to Request Removal

• Provide a Valid Reason: MNHQ is more likely to remove content if you have a "pressing reason," such as privacy concerns, having revealed too much personal information ("outed" yourself), or being bullied/abused.

To repeat myself for the final time. MNHQ obviously felt the posts had a pressing reason to be removed due to causing distress due to bullying.

• SEP (for a CYP aged 2 or over) means “educational or training provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for others of the same age in (a) mainstream schools in England, (b) maintained nursery schools in England, (c) mainstream post-16 institutions in England, or (d) places in England at which relevant early years education is provided”. SEP (for a child under 2) is “education provision of any kind”.

The response to the above statement shall depend on the philosophy of the person answering the following questions:
What is education?
what is the purpose of education?
what is a disability and/or special educational need. This is why there are different government responses for education policy and practice and SEND. They have different views of how to interpret the above statement. Therefore different views on how to deliver pedagogy and curriculum. How to fund education and SEND. Different views on who should be funded for what. I could break it down into Social Justice principles. I suspect you would make a negative comment about that too.

In education studies students are tasked with creating a curriculum that fits all children it is impossible so far. They are also tasked with defining and breaking down statements such as the SEP definition. Particularly in MA Education and MA SEND modules. This is currently a significant area for Kenyan MA Education students.

Just to make my education philosophy/beliefs clear in simple terms.

I genuinely wish it was straightforward and each individual could receive the perfect education system them. There are those who suggest this could only work if each parent funded their child’s education. That would be a pre 1870 plan. Even in today’s society that does not work as there are still wealth disparities and parents have different education levels/passions and values. Education is a right for each individual and they should be supported to achieve and thrive in adulthood.

Non-creative parents may push their child towards non-creative education. Yet the child wants a creative education. A parent may not want to bother educating their child as they do not value education, yet the child wants an education. Creative parents may not value non-creative education etc… Where does this leave Care Experienced children who are already struggling due to trauma which will impact their education. Yes I do believe that Care Experienced children should have an EHC Plan and do have a SEN/D need. These issues would still apply to parents of SEND children.

I do not like education being a business (academy trusts).

I believe education should be holistic and balanced between non-creative, creative and vocational. I dislike a neoliberal curriculum, I like an IB curriculum.

I believe vocational education needs to be brought back and supported for all CYP.

I believe that education needs to be returned to LA control although there needs to a change in senior management the corruption needs to be stopped.

More community schools of different types need to be built to meet the different needs of different communities. Class sizes need to be smaller and grouped in some cases by ability and children can repeat classes or years if required.

All teachers need to be teachers of SEND and schools need the support staff to support the school holistically both pupils and staff.

The fault of SEND funding is not one set fault, it is the fault of multiple competing issues. The damage is actually multiple firstly to the CYP who are not getting their needs met and achieving to the highest of their ability or ambition. Secondly to the teachers and frontline SEND professionals who are on the receiving end of daily abuse in some cases. The genuine ones are hanging in there hoping for change that benefits all CYP as much as possible.