The wait is over. After several delays to the schools White Paper, the Government has finally set out its vision and plan to reform the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England.
At the 2025 Autumn Budget, the Government confirmed that it will absorb the full cost of SEND from 1 April 2028. In the subsequent Local Government Finance Settlement 2026, it also committed to covering 90% of historic high needs dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficits at the end of 2025-26. After years of rising demand without structural reform, this represents bold intervention.
