Ministers say the investment will create “thousands” more places for SEND pupils by helping schools adapt classrooms to be more accessible and to create specialist facilities to “deliver more intensive support”.
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Special Report: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
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Feature: School meets pupils’ emotional health needs
According to the government just a fifth of pupils with SEND are meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2.
“For too long, too many children with additional needs haven’t been getting support early enough, with dire consequences when issues escalate,” said education secretary Bridget Phillipson.
“We are determined to break down barriers to opportunity for all children and will work closely with local authorities, schools and families to ensure inclusion is at the heart of learning and that all pupils are getting the support they need to achieve and thrive.”
The investment has been backed by Confederation of School Trusts chief executive Leora Cruddas.
“There will always be a role for specialist schools, but very often pupils and families can benefit from high quality, effective support in a mainstream school, and increasing capacity for this will help children get the support they need more quickly,” she said.
"There is consensus across trusts, local authorities, government, and, most importantly, families, that the current approach to SEND is not working. Fixing that will take time. This funding initiative has the potential to make a difference to children in our schools right now."
The announcement of the capital investment has been made as part of several government measures around reform of the SEND system.
This includes creating a “neurodivergence task and finish group” involving health and education experts and Department for Education officials. This is being chaired by the Karen Guldberg who is professor of autism studies at the University of Birmingham.
“We are wholeheartedly committed to co-production with those with lived experience and we will be consulting widely,” said Guldberg
“Our focus will be to advise and make recommendations regarding the best ways to support and meet the educational needs of neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream settings.”
The government has also said it will not enter into any more “safety valve” arrangements with local authorities to help them tackle overspending on SEND but will continue to work with councils with which it has existing arrangements.
It said the moves were "pending wider reform of the whole system to prioritise early intervention, properly supporting councils to bring their finances under control".
The measures follow last month’s Autumn Budget announcement of a £1bn funding increase for SEND services.
The National Education Union (NEU) welcomed the investment, but said more funds would be needed to boost SEND provision in schools, including for staffing and mental health support.
Daniel Kebede, the NEU's general secretary, said: “The swift response from government to the worrying findings of the NAO Inquiry into SEND is welcome and a reflection of how seriously they are taking the current SEND crisis.
“£740m is a good starting point for helping schools to create more inclusive environments. Further investment will be needed, however, in staffing, pastoral teams and access to SEND and mental health specialists alongside the repositioning of curriculum and assessment."
Kebede added that to make the required difference, the task and finish group must ensure that its investigations "include the voices and experiences of classroom practitioners themselves."
Kebede also welcomed the pausing of Safety Valve, stating, "A quarter of local authorities being in Safety Valve is a sign of a broken system.
"The Budget promised £865m in 2025-26 to reduce local authority SEND deficits in 2025-26. This is a welcome recognition of reality but what is really needed is a recasting of the system to prioritise early intervention.”
