Story perspectives

DfE Grants Councils Control of SEND Funding from 2027

7/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Department for Education will let councils allocate SEND funding, with payments from April 2027 for schools and September 2027 for academies.
Councils may apply with evidence to raise the unchanged £6,000 per-pupil cap, which has fallen over 50 % since 2013.
The reforms aim to replace £17,500 Education, Health and Care Plans with plans funded from a £1.6 bn pot, move that Anna Bird, Disabled Children’s Partnership, said is welcome but needs expertise.

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Story summary

The Department for Education will let councils allocate SEND funding, with payments from April 2027 for schools and September 2027 for academies.
Councils may apply with evidence to raise the unchanged £6,000 per-pupil cap, which has fallen over 50 % since 2013.
The reforms aim to replace £17,500 Education, Health and Care Plans with plans funded from a £1.6 bn pot, move that Anna Bird, Disabled Children’s Partnership, said is welcome but needs expertise.