UK Cuts Free Schools for Special Needs Cash

The UK government has announced a major shift in education funding. Ministers plan to create 50,000 new places for children with special educational needs (SEND) in mainstream schools across England.

To finance this £3 billion investment over the next three years, the government has taken a controversial step. They have canceled the construction of 28 planned free schools. A further 16 proposed sites are currently under review.

A Strategic Pivot

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson defended the move. She cited changing demographics as the primary reason.

She explained that the government is redirecting funds from areas with “falling rolls” (declining pupil numbers). Instead, they will use the money to address the urgent shortage of specialist provision.

The new funding allows local councils to:

• Adapt existing buildings: This includes creating breakout spaces and sensory rooms for children with autism or ADHD.
• Reduce travel time: This ensures pupils can attend school in their local communities rather than travelling long distances.

Currently, local authorities spend £1.5 billion annually on transport for SEND students. This figure has more than doubled since 2015.

Political Backlash

The decision has sparked a fierce political row. The Conservative Party branded the move “education vandalism.”

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott accused Labour of scrapping schools that parents want.

“The government has halted shovel-ready, worked-up special schools, and replaced them with a smaller pot of money and no plan,” Trott said. She argued that free schools have a strong track record of raising standards.

The SEND Crisis

The policy comes as the demand for support hits record levels. Nearly 1.7 million pupils in England now receive support for special educational needs.

Frustration among parents is boiling over. Data from the Ministry of Justice reveals a record high in legal disputes. In 2024-2025, 25,000 parents took councils to court over SEND provision. Most disputes centered on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Jane Harris, chief executive of Speech and Language UK, welcomed the funding but issued a warning.

“For these new resourced provisions to truly transform children’s education… they must be more than just rooms – they must be hubs of expertise,” she said.

Harris emphasized that buildings alone are not enough. The system urgently needs more specialist teachers and therapists to support the 30% of children with speech and language challenges.

“Best of Both Worlds”

For some students, the mainstream-plus model works well. At Ninestiles Academy in Birmingham, students like 14-year-old Brendan spend 70% of their time in mainstream lessons. They spend the rest in a specialist resource hub.

Brendan’s mother, Laura Jerram, says the pastoral support has been key to keeping him in school. However, she described the battle to get his initial care plan as a “horrible journey.”

“I feel that for Brendan, if he’d had support much earlier on, he may not have fallen out of education the way he did,” she said.

The government states that this investment is merely the groundwork. They will detail broader reforms in a delayed White Paper expected early next year.

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