SEND overspend could hit £136m - councillor

Overspending on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Kent could reach £136m by March, a councillor has said.

Councillor Harry Rayner, a former deputy cabinet member in the previous Conservative administration, said the total could be even higher, describing the arrangement as "effectively… a debt agreement with the government".

Kent County Council (KCC) papers separately show a £70m deficit expected in 2025–26 and say the SEND bill "continues to be one of the council's biggest financial risks", the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

The pressures reflect rising demand for support and a shortfall in government funding.

KCC said that although the government will take over SEND responsibilities from 2028, it is "still unclear" what will happen to any legacy debts.

The previous Conservative administration, along with 37 other councils, signed up to the government's five-year Safety Valve Agreement (SVA) in 2022-23.

The scheme aims to help authorities with large SEND deficits by offering additional government funding in return for delivering reforms and tighter financial controls.

Papers due to be presented to the Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) cabinet committee on 20 January said the SVA had avoided the need to "otherwise impose up to £222m of spending reductions" in SEND services.

However, the papers also warn "there is a risk that future payments… could be withheld" if Kent fails to show sufficient progress in reducing its deficit.

The council said it has received all payments due so far.

Under the agreement, KCC has committed to a series of changes, including working with mainstream schools to support and integrate more SEND pupils and reviewing the education, health and care plan (EHCP) system.

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