SEND Provision: Somerset

Opened the debate

The current SEND system in Somerset is broken due to high demand, insufficient funding, and an adversarial approach. Since the reforms under the Children and Families Act 2014, there has been a significant increase in the number of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), leading to a surge in costs. Mainstream schools face real-term cuts, while independent specialist schools are far more expensive, placing further pressure on councils. Rural areas like Somerset also struggle with high home-to-school transport costs, exacerbating the issue. The system is failing to meet the needs of vulnerable children and is causing financial strain for local authorities, leading to a one-way exit from education for some children who move to home schooling.

Government Response

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. I congratulate the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton on securing this debate. The SEND system in England is broken with over 1.6 million children and young people requiring special educational needs support. Tribunal rates are rising, leading to increasingly long waits for support. Just one in four special educational needs pupils achieve expected standards at the end of primary school. We know effective early identification and intervention can reduce long-term impacts. The Government announced £140 million extra funding for special and alternative provision schools this financial year to address cost pressures. High-needs funding allocations are yet to be published due to spending review delays, but we will work with local authorities on these issues. We welcome the publication of the Big Listen response and consider how outcomes for children with SEND can be better reflected in future inspections. A joint inspection by Ofsted and CQC in March 2020 identified nine significant areas of weakness in Somerset's SEND services; seven have since made sufficient progress, while two remain under close monitoring. The Government has implemented a support programme in Somerset including workshops, specialist advice, and ongoing support from the Department for Education and NHS England. Local authorities can use high needs capital funding to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, alongside improvements in existing buildings. Somerset council received just under £20 million in high needs capital funding between 2022 and 2025, with a new special free school opening this month. The Government is committed to developing inclusive education in mainstream schools while considering the challenges around exclusion and ensuring appropriate support for pupils with SEND. My officials will be pleased to meet representatives from Somerset council to discuss their thoughts on the SEND system.