Securing SEND Futures: Supporting Inclusion Amid School Budget Pressures 

SEND provision in schools is facing unprecedented financial strain, with government plans leaving a £6 billion shortfall by 2028.  

The Growing SEND Challenge and Funding Crisis 

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision remains as one of the most pressing issues today, in education. Yesterday’s Schools Week article highlights the stark warning from the Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR): absorbing SEND costs into central government budgets will create a £6.3 billion annual shortfall by 2028-29, rising to £9 billion by 2030-31.   

Initially, the OBR had reported a 1.7 per cent real fall in mainstream school spending per pupil rather than the 2.4 per cent increase, if this was fully funded within the Department for Education’s £69 billion core schools’ budget in 2028-29.  

This financial uncertainty risks undermining mainstream school budgets. If SEND pressures were met solely from the Department for Education’s core budget, per-pupil funding could fall by up to 4.9%, reversing planned increases. School leaders warn this would have a catastrophic impact on educational provision, particularly for disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils. 

Local authority SEND spending is forecast to climb from £15 billion today to £22 billion by 2030-31 and furthermore, the OBR has warned that the government hasn’t disclosed how they intend to address the historic deficits estimated to reach £14 billion by the time the override ends in 2028, and this poses a “significant fiscal risk”. 

 Why Schools Need Support Beyond Government Funding 

• Unresolved deficits: Councils face ballooning SEND debts and the end of the statutory override means councils will have to formally recognise these debts, potentially issuing Section 114 notices, effectively declaring bankruptcy. This creates a climate of uncertainty where schools cannot rely solely on government intervention to secure the resources needed for SEND provision. Without external support, the financial instability of councils could directly impact the services available to vulnerable pupils. 

• Operational strain: School leadership teams are under immense pressure to balance inclusion, wellbeing, and financial sustainability. They must ensure that SEND pupils receive tailored support while also managing stretched budgets, rising costs, and accountability demands. This balancing act often forces leaders into difficult trade-offs, such as cutting enrichment programmes or delaying investment in staff development. External partners like Schools Mutual Services can ease this strain by providing cost-effective staffing solutions, allowing leaders to focus on strategic priorities rather than firefighting financial crises 

• Staffing challenges: Teacher attrition rates remain high, with stress-related absences and recruitment difficulties leaving gaps in provision. These gaps are particularly damaging in SEND, where continuity and specialist expertise are critical. When schools struggle to fill posts, pupils with additional needs risk losing consistent support, which can hinder progress and wellbeing. By offering SEND-trained supply staff at fair pay rates, Schools Mutual Services helps schools maintain stability and ensures pupils are not left behind due to staffing shortages 

• Equity risks: Cuts to per-pupil funding – potentially as deep as 4.9% if SEND costs are absorbed into the core schools budget – risk widening inequalities. Vulnerable learners, including those with SEND, are disproportionately affected when resources shrink. Reduced funding can mean fewer teaching assistants, less access to therapies, and diminished capacity for personalised learning plans. Without additional support mechanisms, schools may struggle to uphold their statutory duty to provide equitable education. Partnering with organisations like SMS puts schools in a better position to prioritise inclusion, even in the face of financial uncertainty 

In summary: Government funding alone cannot resolve the SEND crisis. Schools also need ethical, sustainable partners when navigating deficits, staffing issues, and equity challenges. Schools Mutual Services provides a safety net to ensure SEND provision remains strong even as budgets tighten. 

What Help Do Schools Need and What Should They Do? 

• Targeted Government Funding
  Schools need ring-fenced SEND funding that grows in line with demand, rather than being absorbed into general budgets. Without this, mainstream provision risks being cut to plug gaps. 

• Clear National SEND Reform
  The government has promised reforms, but schools need clarity on how these will address deficits, improve early intervention, and ensure financial sustainability. 

• Local Authority Support
  Councils must be equipped to manage historic SEND deficits. Schools need assurance that local services such as educational psychology, therapies, and specialist placements remain viable. 

• Workforce Development
  Investment in training and retention is critical. Teachers and support staff need CPD focused on SEND strategies, resilience, and wellbeing to reduce attrition and improve provision. 

• Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
  Both pupils and staff require access to wellbeing support. SEND pupils often need tailored mental health provision, while staff need resources to manage health, stress and workload. SMS provides a wellbeing package to our Supply Staff.  

• Strengthen Early Intervention
  Focus resources on identifying and supporting SEND needs early, reducing long-term costs and improving outcomes. 

• Advocate for Policy Change
  School leaders should engage with unions, associations, and policymakers to push for sustainable SEND funding and reforms that reflect the realities on the ground. 

• Adopt Ethical Procurement Models
  Beyond staffing, schools should seek ethical, cost-effective suppliers for services and resources, ensuring public money remains in education rather than lost to profit-driven agencies 

• Partner with SMS for Staffing Stability
  Use SMS to access SEND-trained supply staff, fair pay structures, and ethical recruitment that protects budgets and ensures continuity of care. 

How Schools Mutual Services (SMS) Helps 

Schools Mutual Services, a not-for-profit, member-owned organisation, was created by education leaders to provide ethical, cost-effective staffing solutions. Our model is particularly valuable for SEND provision: 

• SEND-specialist supply staff: SMS carefully selects quality and fully vetted professionals trained to support SEND learners, ensuring continuity and tailored care. 

• Fair pay and conditions: Unlike most commercial agencies, SMS pays supply staff at national pay rates, reducing turnover and improving stability. 

• Lowest daily rates: Schools benefit from the most cost-effective staffing model, protecting budgets without compromising quality. 

• Comprehensive support: SMS offers CPD training and wellbeing services, equipping staff to thrive in challenging SEND environments. 

• Ethical transparency: With no excess profits, all spending remains within the education sector, safeguarding public funds. 

• Member ownership: Schools themselves own SMS, ensuring decisions are made in the best interests of pupils and staff. 

The Benefits for Schools and Pupils 

By partnering with SMS, schools can: 

• Safeguard SEND provision even as government reforms remain uncertain. 

• Protect mainstream budgets from exploitative agency costs. 

• Ensure continuity of care for vulnerable pupils through stable, well-supported staff. 

• Promote equity and inclusion, aligning with the statutory responsibility to meet SEND needs. 

In Conclusion 

The 2025 Budget highlights both opportunities and risks for schools, but the unresolved SEND crisis threatens to destabilise the system. With deficits mounting and reforms yet to be clarified, schools need partners who can deliver sustainable, ethical, and cost-effective solutions. 

Working with Schools Mutual Services helps schools just like yours to meet SEND responsibilities, protect budgets, and ensure every child receives the support they deserve. 

About SMS

Schools Mutual Services (SMS) is a not-for-profit supply staffing agency, owned and managed by schools. It was created to deliver ethical, transparent, and cost-effective staffing solutions across the education sector. Unlike commercial agencies, SMS keeps spend within the education system, helping schools protect their budgets while ensuring supply educators receive fair pay, professional development, and alignment to national pay scales.

With regional hubs covering the whole of the North East, East Midlands, and the South East, Schools Mutual Services works with executive leaders in schools and academies across Newcastle, Durham, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland, South Shields, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicester, Oxfordshire, Swindon, and Berkshire.

Each hub is embedded within its local education community, working in partnership with schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, and teaching alliances such as OTSA, to deliver tailored supply staffing support across primary, secondary, and special education settings. This includes day-to-day supply teaching, long-term placements, and specialist provision for pupils with SEND needs.

SMS recognises the critical importance of inclusive education and ensures that supply staff are equipped to support children and young people with a wide range of needs. By prioritising SEND expertise, SMS helps schools access supply teachers and support staff who are trained, empathetic, and committed to enabling every pupil to thrive.

From multi-academy trusts to community primary and special schools, SMS is helping educational establishments navigate financial pressures with a smarter, more cost-effective, and sustainable solution for supply teachers and support staff—one that puts pupil outcomes, inclusion, and equity at the heart of education.

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If you have any supply staffing requirements or would like to discuss any information in this article further, you can contact us here ➡️CONTACT FORM 

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