English councils say special educational needs debts could reach £10bn by 2028 as EHCP applications surge and parents rush to secure support before reforms.
01Summary
- 01The County Councils Network said English councils could re-accrue more than £5bn of Send debt by April and double that to £10bn by 2028.
- 02EHCP applications have risen sharply since the government announced proposals to change Send provision in England.
- 03In January, 718,000 young people had EHCPs, up 12.5% in 12 months, the largest annual rise since the plans began in 2014.
- 04The government has agreed to cover 90% of top tier councils’ Send debts accumulated to March 2026, but future support is still unclear.
- 05Hampshire county council is forecasting a £200m deficit this year, while other councils including Surrey, Kent and Norfolk expect major overspends.
02Why it matters
The forecast debt rise could put pressure on council finances and force cuts elsewhere in local services. It also means children may face longer waits for support while councils try to cope with rising demand.
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