The Government has announced a £4 billion investment package aimed at transforming support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). But industry experts warn that funding could be swallowed up by mounting backlogs and growing demand.
The package includes a £1.6 billion inclusive mainstream fund over three years, which will go directly to early years settings, schools and colleges to strengthen classroom support. A further £1.8 billion will fund a new ‘Experts at Hand’ service, aiming to create a local database of specialists including SEND teachers and speech and language therapists across all areas.
Keir Starmer said the reforms would help families receive tailored support without having to “fight the system”.
“This means there is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach,” he said, promising an offering tailored to individual needs and delivered locally.
But some experts and parents doubt the level of funding will be enough to address systemic problems.
Gosia Dawson, director at Glade Financial and mother of an autistic child, said acknowledgment of failings in the SEND system was welcome but warned structural problems remained.
“£4 billion sounds significant, but spread across the country over three years it risks being absorbed by backlogs and rising demand,” she said. “Funding alone will not solve the challenges around assessments, thresholds and accountability.”
She added that many children with moderate but genuine needs often struggle to receive timely support. “All too often, help only comes when a child reaches crisis point. Early intervention is not a cost factor, but an investment.”
Riz Malik, director at R3 Wealth and former chair of trustees at a multi-academy trust, called the announcement a positive step but said it should mark the start of longer-term reform.
“Sensible investments have been needed for years,” he said. “If this provides earlier support and more specialist resources, it can improve outcomes, but it should only be the start.”
The SEND system has been criticized repeatedly in recent years due to long delays in assessment, increasing demand for education, health and care plans (EHCP) and budget pressures on local authorities.
While the government says the new funding will strengthen local capacity and reduce the need for families to escalate disputes, observers warn that without parallel reform of assessment processes and accountability structures, the additional funding could make it difficult to keep up with demand.
For many families, the success of the program will not be measured by headlines, but by whether it reduces wait times, improves early intervention and ensures children receive the right support before they reach their limits.
