New report lays bare the growing cost of SEND sprending

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"Spending on special educational needs and disabilities (Send) is projected to surpass the Ministry of Justice's day-to-day budget by 2029 unless significant reforms are implemented, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned. Researchers forecast that combined expenditure on education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and a cash benefit for disabled children could reach 21 billion by the end of the parliamentary term."

"Economists cautioned that the escalating costs associated with children requiring high needs could subsequently translate into increased spending for young adults with similar requirements. The IFS specifically predicts that spending on high needs within schools, predominantly for EHCP support, would exceed 15 billion, thereby surpassing the Ministry of Justice's entire daily operational budget. Furthermore, child disability living allowance (CDLA) spending is expected to climb to 6 billion by 2029."

A news outlet seeks donations to fund on-the-ground reporting and keep journalism free of paywalls, citing coverage from reproductive rights to Big Tech and a documentary titled 'The A Word'. The Institute for Fiscal Studies forecasts combined expenditure on education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and a cash benefit for disabled children could reach 21 billion by the end of the parliamentary term, more than double 2016 levels. The IFS warns high-needs school spending may exceed 15 billion by 2029 and that child disability living allowance costs could climb to 6 billion, with costs for young adults likely to rise too.

Read at www.independent.co.uk