Government announces £740m investment for SEND schoolchildren

More children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) will be supported in schools after the government announced new funding today.

The Department of Education will invest £740million in schools across the country, funding 10,000 new school places for children with SEND.

Across South London, Lewisham will see £5,710,313 followed by Southwark which will see a cash boost of £5,028,292.

Lambeth is set for £2,468,212 from the Government, with £2,242,894 going to Wandsworth.

The investment will help mainstream schools deliver adaptations and expand specialist units as well as create new places in special schools.

Funding will also be used to ensure inclusive environments by creating breakout spaces where children can go to self-regulate or investing in assistive technology.  

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: “We want every family to have access to a good school for their child, breaking the link between children’s background and their opportunities in life. 

“This investment is a big step towards delivering not only enough school places, but the right school places, supporting all children and plugging the significant gaps in provision we inherited.”

Fewer than one in 10 mainstream schools have SEN units or resourced provision – specialist facilities which provide more intensive support for pupils with SEND – according to government figures.

Between 2010 to 2024, the number of children with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) increased from 7,000 to 26,000.

Today’s announcement comes alongside a £1billion investment to fund 44,500 places in mainstream schools needed by 2028.

In November 2024, Lambeth council closed two schools and merged four in response to falling pupil rolls.

At the time, the local authority said the financial challenge facing its education system meant schools in the borough would be £17million in debt by March 2026, if measures were not brought in.

(Picture: Pixabay/Alicja)