Devon's special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) service is predicted to overspend by £88 million this year, a figure that highlights the urgency of anticipated national reforms, it has been claimed.
Devon's cabinet heard that the service would once again overspend as demand from families continues to rise and costs escalate. The SEND service helps children with learning difficulties or physical disabilities access education.
But the average annual cost of an education, health and care plan (EHCP), which is often required for children to get the support they need, has jumped to more than £19,900 in July from just over £17,000 in March this year.
A crucial factor in the high costs is students being placed in SEND-focused schools. That has prompted a push locally and nationally to increase the number of SEND children attending mainstream settings.
Earlier this year, the government confirmed it would pay off 90 per cent of SEND deficits at local councils with a roughly £5 billion grant. But this relates to deficits accumulated up to the end of the previous financial year, which ended in March 2026. That means the expected overspend this financial year could fall on Devon unless further support from Parliament is forthcoming.
"If the anticipated government support [for this financial year] is not received, a corresponding pressure of up to £79.3 million would fall to the council and would need to be managed through available reserves and other mitigating actions," a report prepared for Devon County Council 's cabinet stated. "Therefore, there remains a significant financial risk that no formal government commitment has been made regarding the continuation of the current support arrangements beyond March 2026. Should government policy change, or if support is reduced or withdrawn, the council could face substantially higher costs than currently
Devon’s Special Needs Overspend Could Reach £88m