Brent Council Grapples with £15m Funding Shortfall Amid Soaring SEND Demand
Brent Council is confronting a severe financial challenge as the demand for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support reaches unprecedented levels. The local authority faces a projected higher needs funding gap of nearly £15 million for the 2026/27 financial year, driven by a dramatic 67 percent increase in children requiring educational health and care plans (EHCPs) over the past five years.
Rising EHCP Numbers Create Financial Strain
The number of children with EHCPs in Brent has surged from 2,784 in January 2021 to 4,186 as of last month, marking the first time the total has exceeded 4,000. This substantial growth has placed significant pressure on council resources, with funding failing to keep pace with escalating needs.
High needs funding is allocated to local authorities through the government's dedicated schools grant (DSG), intended to help councils meet their statutory SEND obligations. However, Brent Council has reported that funding increases have not matched the rapid rise in EHCPs, creating ongoing financial difficulties. The council forecast a £4.8 million overspend in the past financial year, primarily attributed to an 8 percent increase in EHCPs between January 2024 and January 2025.
Breaking Down the £14.9m Funding Gap
The projected £14.9 million shortfall for 2026/27 stems from multiple cost pressures identified by the council:
- £2.3 million for out-of-borough placements
- £2.3 million for independent school placements
- £1.3 million for post-16 placements
- £6.1 million linked to growth in approved SEND places and increasing complexity of needs
Despite a 4.7 percent increase in Brent's higher needs budget to £95.3 million for 2026/27, this allocation remains insufficient compared to the percentage growth in EHCP requirements.
Council's Response: Expanding Local SEND Provision
To address these financial pressures, Brent Council is implementing a two-phase capital programme designed to increase local SEND school places. Phase 1, approved in January 2022, has already delivered 298 additional places, with 84 more expected by January 2030.
Phase 2 will create 212 further SEND places, potentially saving £4.3 million over the programme's duration, including £2.6 million in 2026/27 alone. These savings are based on an average cost avoidance of £21,000 per place—the difference between placing a child in an independent special school versus an in-borough special school. The council also anticipates reducing transport costs by approximately £1.3 million.
Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Employment, Councillor Gwen Grahl, emphasized the council's strategy: "Continuing the good work completed in the past three years to be on target to deliver 382 new SEND places from the 2022 approved capital programme, this second phase builds on this foundation as SEND demand continues to increase. We have worked with schools to identify spare mainstream capacity to convert to SEND to reduce costs and ensure maximum value from the SEND capital grant funding."
National Context and Future Changes
The growth in EHCPs reflects a national trend, with increasing numbers of children being assessed as meeting the threshold for SEND support. Currently, approximately 480,000 of the 1.7 million SEND pupils in England have EHCPs, which provide legal rights to additional educational support.
A recent government white paper outlines forthcoming changes to the assessment system. Starting in September 2029, children's entitlement to EHCPs will be reassessed as they transition between education stages. By 2035, EHCPs will be reserved exclusively for children with the most complex needs. Under the new framework, every child with SEND will receive an Individual Support Plan (ISP) to guarantee support, even if they do not qualify for an EHCP.
Brent Council's financial predicament highlights the broader challenges facing local authorities across England as they strive to meet growing SEND demands within constrained budgets. The council's proactive approach to expanding local provision represents a critical effort to manage costs while ensuring appropriate support for vulnerable children.
