Council spending on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has surged by more than £5bn in real terms over six years.
According to research from the Policy Exchange think-tank, spending on SEND provision across local authorities rose by 59% from 2018-19 to 2024-25.
The report found SEND spending during this period had increased at the quickest rate in the most affluent 50% of England's councils, which reported a 65% rise, whereas spending across the most deprived 50% of local authorities had risen by 51%.
Policy Exchange research fellow and author of the report, Zachary Marsh, revealed that 11 councils' SEND spending had grown by more than 100% in six years.
