How will SEND reforms meet London's growing needs?

"It's partly to do with the fact that we are catching up with particularly girls and young people with ethnic minority heritage who were perhaps not previously diagnosed as autistic but now are more likely to be. There were other factors such as rising childhood poverty, housing and the lasting impact of the pandemic on children's social and communication skills. All of this influences health and their development."

"Our analysis found that pupils receiving SEND support in the capital have increased by a third. And those with the highest level of need pupils with EHCPs - have almost doubled in that time. The number of autistic pupils receiving support in school has increased by 158% from 17,832 in 2015-16 to 46,095 in 2024-2025."

London has experienced a sharp rise in pupils requiring special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support over the past decade. Analysis reveals a one-third increase in pupils receiving SEND support, with those holding Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) nearly doubling. Autistic pupils receiving support increased by 158%, from 17,832 in 2015-16 to 46,095 in 2024-2025. Experts attribute this growth to multiple factors: improved awareness and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions, particularly among girls and ethnic minority children previously undiagnosed; rising childhood poverty; housing instability; and lasting pandemic effects on children's social and communication skills. The government has pledged reforms including a 4 billion pound investment in mainstream schools over three years, with 1.6 billion allocated specifically for SEND support.

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