More than 100 million was spent last year by local authorities and the government on failed efforts to block support for children and young people with special educational needs in England.
Councils won just 136 out of more than 10,000 tribunals in 2022-23, a success rate of 1.2% as record numbers of families took to the courts to challenge councils.
Experts noted that the surging numbers of appeals and mounting costs indicate a shift towards an adversarial battle between financially constrained councils and desperate families.
Reform of special educational needs and disabilities services is highlighted as urgent and essential, as the current system fails both families and councils amid rising needs.
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