Local SEND Reform Plans · 40 documents asked · 36 answered · 4 not stated · run 11 September 2026
How does this council plan to bring its high needs budget back into balance, and by when?
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Ask for a surveyMost councils follow a similar script. They plan to shift spending from costly independent and out-of-area placements towards local specialist provision, mainstream inclusion bases, and earlier intervention. Many use a small Schools Block to High Needs Block transfer for 2026/27 to fund this shift, including North Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Shropshire, Slough, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Wigan and Worcestershire. Very few give a firm date for full in-year balance. Bristol and Barnsley both name 2029. Stoke-on-Trent aims for 2030. Richmond upon Thames sets a five-year horizon. Several, like Bury, Somerset, Harrow and South Tyneside, explicitly say they do not expect balance within the plan period, only slower growth or a lower deficit peak.
Some councils stand out. East Sussex and Worcestershire depend heavily on external rescue: East Sussex has agreement in principle for up to £70m Exceptional Financial Support, while Worcestershire is banking on a £162.7m Stability Grant. Norfolk and Rochdale similarly expect a Stability Grant covering 90% of their historic deficit, with Norfolk's remaining 2026/27–2027/28 deficits potentially exceeding £200m. Coventry is unusual in stating it has no deficit at all, so no recovery timetable applies.
On numbers, several councils are specific. Cornwall names a £35.8m 2025/26 deficit and £9m of 2026/27 investment. Oxfordshire cites a £136.6m deficit. Kingston upon Thames gives £12.3m over-expenditure. Bromley projects a £12.52m cost reduction by 2029/30. Somerset forecasts its deficit peaking at £68.1m before falling to about £57.7m by 2032/33. Cambridgeshire commits to over 310 new local places by 2028, and Dorset to 17 new inclusion bases by 2029.
Others are vaguer, describing "financial sustainability" or "living within its means" without figures or dates, such as Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, Cumberland and Wirral.
Four councils give nothing at all on this question.
Not stated: Isle of Wight, Leeds, Reading, Solihull.
About this survey
The question was put to each document on its own, using up to six of its most relevant pages. Page numbers in the table link to the document itself.
Model claude-sonnet-5. How a survey is made.
Not stated (4)
Isle of Wight, Leeds, Reading, Solihull
Every document's answer
Barnsley
Barnsley aims to move to a "financially sustainable position" by 2029 p7, reducing the High Needs Block deficit (£19M as of March 2026, with forecast deficits of £13.4M in 2026/27 and £14.6M in 2027/28) over time p7. Its approach involves investing in early intervention, workforce, and local system capacity to reduce reliance on costly out-of-borough placements p11, plus a £1.8 million schools-to-high-needs block transfer for 2026/27 to boost local specialist capacity and cut high-cost independent placements p60.
Bath and North East Somerset
The council is delivering its existing Safety Valve Deficit Management Plan (DMP), which uses forecasting and financial modelling and gave a positive projection of removing the current deficit (page 42, page 3). It plans to reduce spend on independent and out-of-area placements, pool resources at locality level, reduce duplication, and monitor investment against impact for sustainability p3. Targeted high-cost placement work beginning in Year 2 is expected to positively impact the DMP p19. No specific end-date for balancing the budget is stated.
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
BCP will deliver a High Needs Block Management Plan alongside SEND reform, aligning resources to early help and inclusion, strengthening financial oversight through partnership governance, and using joint commissioning to improve efficiency p66. A High Needs Block Board has been established for strategic financial oversight, scrutinising and monitoring costs to track demand and oversee the recovery plan p68. No specific target date for returning to balance is stated in the excerpts provided.
Brighton and Hove
The council plans to reduce spend on high-cost placements over time, with no additional out-of-city placements made between 2027 and 2029 p13. This is supported by capital investment (£3.5 million) for sufficiency planning aligned to demand, expanding mainstream inclusion bases, specialist bases and AP places over three years, rather than a Schools Block to High Needs Block funding transfer, of which none has been made p27. No single fixed date for full budget balance is stated.
Bristol
Bristol aims to achieve an in-year balanced high needs budget by 2029 p2, through early intervention, expanded local provision, and reduced reliance on independent placements p2. This builds on Safety Valve investments, including £53.1m creating 569 specialist places, £2m for ILS and EP services, and a "Bringing Children Back" project saving £1.6m by supporting 34 children locally p2. New specialist places, like Trym Valley free school, will further reduce funding pressures (page 16, page 8).
Bromley
Bromley plans to stabilise its high needs budget through moderated demand, increased local sufficiency, reduced reliance on high-cost/independent provision, and investment in early intervention and workforce capacity (page 5-6). The partnership anticipates a total High Needs budget cost reduction of £12.52m by 2029/30, plus £1.67m reduced SEN Transport expenditure by 2029/30 p6. A clear inflection point—moderated EHCP growth and reduced out-of-borough reliance—is expected by 2028/29 p6.
Bury
Bury aims to improve value for money and financial sustainability by investing in early intervention, local capacity and inclusive provision to reduce reliance on high-cost specialist placements, but it explicitly states it does not expect this to show improvement during the three-year plan period (2026–2029), with results only becoming a critical measure of success in the following five years p5.
Cambridgeshire
The council plans to reduce reliance on high-cost independent placements by investing in local state-funded specialist provision, enhanced resource bases, school inclusion bases, commissioned alternative provision and earlier intervention, with over 310 additional local places planned by 2028 p43. This is being progressed through the High Needs Block Working Group and a revised funding model, as part of the Safety Valve programme, aiming to "support an in-year balanced high needs budget in line with Stability Grant expectations" p43.
Cornwall
Cornwall had a £35.8 million DSG in-year deficit in 2025/26 p5. Its plan aims to "bend the long-term cost curve" through over £9 million of investment in 2026/27 to expand area resource bases and inclusion bases, reducing reliance on costly independent and out-of-area placements, alongside stronger commissioning and market management p5. By 2028/29 it aims to stabilise placements and reduce independent specialist spending p5. No specific date for full balance is stated p5.
Coventry
Coventry states it is not currently in an overall DSG deficit position, so no specific deficit-recovery timetable is given p20. It has made no Schools Block to High Needs Block transfer in 2026/27 p20. Balance is maintained through continued strong local partnerships and sustained focus on early intervention, alongside a high needs capital strategy that reduces reliance on costly out-of-city placements by expanding inclusive mainstream, inclusion bases and in-city special school capacity p20.
Cumberland
Cumberland aims to secure financial sustainability by expanding local inclusion bases and specialist capacity to reduce reliance on costly independent and out-of-area placements (currently over £6.4m annually and rising), targeting budget stability rather than full balance over the next three years p7. Progress, including reduced reliance on high-cost placements, is to be evidenced by 2028–29 p8.
Dorset
Dorset plans to reduce its High Needs Block deficit primarily by expanding mainstream inclusion capacity to cut reliance on costly independent placements (around £31 million annually, averaging £63,000 per pupil) p18. This involves adding 17 new Specialist Inclusion Bases by 2029, increasing places from 195 to 479 p64, alongside a robust sufficiency strategy, phased base expansion, and financial tracking to contain demand and cost growth p68. No single fixed date for full budget balance is stated.
Durham
Durham plans to strengthen partnership working across education, health, care and the voluntary sector, aligning SEND reform with FFP, Best Start in Life and Family Hubs to integrate commissioning and reduce duplication p6. In Year 1 it will establish governance and align commissioning; in Year 2 it will shift toward early intervention and local provision; by Year 3 it aims to evidence "stabilised demand, reduced cost pressures and a sustainable balance between need, provision and resource" p6.
East Sussex
The council applied for Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) of up to £70m to address the 2026–27 funding gap, and MHCLG has given agreement in principle, enabling a balanced budget in the near term p26. However, EFS is temporary and repayable, not a permanent fix p26. The plan aims to mitigate the HNB deficit through reform actions, with a downward trajectory expected from 2029/30 p8, while EFS overall reaches £117.7m by 2028–29 p25.
Hackney
Hackney plans to redirect High Needs Block funding into early intervention and internal mainstream inclusion bases, rebalancing away from reliance on specialist and independent placements p7. This "invest-to-save" realignment aims to sustain forecast expenditure growth at 4% without further relying on Schools-to-High-Needs block transfers p7, with expenditure stabilising at £81,236,000 by 2028/29 p20. No explicit full "balance by" date is stated.
Harrow
The plan does not aim for full budget balance by 2028/29; rather, High Needs Block spend is projected to keep growing, from £69m (2025/26) to £74.7m (2026/2027) and £79.7m (2027/2028), against a £52m budget, due to rising EHCP numbers p25. Sustainability is pursued through improving average EHCP cost trajectory, expected to trend downward from 2029, with a 0.7% reduction versus 2025/26 levels p25, alongside increased local provision to reduce costly out-of-borough placements p75.
Hertfordshire
The council plans to rebalance high needs finances by strengthening inclusion (Universal Offer, Inclusion Alliance), improving access to specialist expertise via the Experts at Hand model, and reshaping provision through the £140m SEND Provision Plan, creating 650 new specialist places to reduce reliance on costly independent placements (page 4, page 8). It expects sustained improvements in outcomes and "greater financial sustainability within the High Needs system" by 2028-29, following foundation-building in 2026-27 and embedding/scaling in 2027-28 p4.
Hounslow
Hounslow plans to achieve financial sustainability through better outcomes rather than reduced ambition, using the Safety Valve Programme, banded funding reforms, increased local provision and stronger mainstream inclusion to shift resources towards earlier intervention p5. It is also transferring £449,204 (0.17%) from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block for 2026-27 to support this p32. The plan targets a more inclusive, financially sustainable High Needs system by 2029 p5.
Kingston upon Thames
The council aims to address its current £12.3m High Needs Block over-expenditure p4 by shifting from high-cost independent placements to localised, in-borough provision, pivoting resources toward earlier intervention, strengthening place planning with Mime data, and rigorously monitoring 2026-27 investment and grant spend alongside capital investment in mainstream inclusion capacity (page 4, page 52). No specific target date for full budget balance is stated in these excerpts.
Norfolk
Norfolk expects the Government's High Needs Stability Grant to fund 90% of its cumulative DSG deficit as of 31 March 2026, with payment due Autumn 2026 once the plan is approved p10. The remaining 10% local contribution must be funded by NCC, with proposals to address this included in Cabinet reports on 29 June 2026 p10. Longer-term, the plan aims to reduce reliance on specialist placements to shrink the deficit over time, though 2026/27–2027/28 deficits remain unresolved and could exceed £200m p10.
North Northamptonshire
The council plans to transfer £1,617,471.87 million from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block for 2026-27, targeting Tier 2/3 support via the Expert at Hand model and early intervention funding for mainstream schools to reduce escalation to statutory EHCPs and demand on the High Needs Block p44. It also seeks greater central government "flexibility in addressing legacy deficits" to redirect resources toward prevention, though no specific date for full balance is stated p57.
Nottingham
Nottingham plans to stabilise its High Needs budget by 2028 through its High Needs Recovery Plan (2026–2030), reducing reliance on costly independent and out-of-area placements, expanding local specialist provision, and investing in early intervention p30. This includes a £1.074m Schools Block to High Needs Block transfer in 2026/27, part of a wider c.£3.4m package aimed at managing demand and costs p66, alongside expanded local capacity to cut out-of-area spending p68.
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire's DSG high needs deficit stood at £136.6 million as of 31 March 2026 p3. The council plans to address this through a shift towards earlier intervention, stronger local inclusion, better-targeted specialist capacity, improved joint commissioning and better use of data, aiming to reduce avoidable escalation and support more children closer to home p3. This is delivered via a three-year programme: mobilisation, implementation, then embedding and scaling p3. No specific year for full balance is stated p3.
Richmond upon Thames
The council's shared goal is a balanced High Needs Block within five years p21. To achieve this, it plans to shift from high-cost, independent sector reliance for children with complex needs toward localised, joint-commissioned provision, and to work with the ICB to protect statutory SEND functions alongside its Specialist Expertise at Hand offer p3. It also aims to build a flexible local offer maximising the impact of high needs and health funding p5.
Rochdale
The council uses a Schools Block to High Needs Block transfer as an "un-hypothecated contribution to slightly mitigate against the overspend" p20, alongside investment in data/analytics to inform resource allocation and early intervention p20. On approval of its Reform Plan, Rochdale will receive a High Needs Stability Grant covering 90% of its High Needs DSG deficit accrued up to end of 2025-26, equating to £41.4m, plus transformation funding of £2.1m in Year 1 and £3.6m in Year 2 p76. No specific balance date is stated beyond this.
Shropshire
Shropshire plans to stabilise its High Needs budget by strengthening financial grip: better understanding of unit costs and placement drivers, tighter oversight of commissioning and top-up funding, and a "DSG recovery strategy" linked to capital investment (page 26, page 4). It is transferring 0.5% of the Schools Block (£1,165,244) into the High Needs Block for 2026/27 to manage demand p25, and targets reducing INMSS placements to 9% and top-up funding to within 37% of statutory neighbours, tracked through a phased plan running to 2027–28/29 (page 10, page 23).
Slough
Slough does not promise full balance by a fixed date; instead it aims for stronger financial oversight and reduced growth in high-cost placements by 2028/29, with the in-year DSG deficit still projected to rise to £27.866m in 2027/28 p34. Actions include a Schools Block to High Needs Block transfer of £0.861m for 2026/27 p53, expanded local/inclusive provision, sufficiency and capital planning, and stronger commissioning and data oversight through the reform programme (page 27, page 57).
Somerset
Somerset does not expect full budget balance in this timeframe; instead it aims to reduce the annual High Needs deficit, which is forecast to peak at £68.1m in 2029/30 before falling by 18% to £57.7m–£57.8m by 2032/33 p5 p8. This is to be achieved through a 10-project SEND Reform Programme expanding local provision, strengthening mainstream inclusion, and reducing reliance on high-cost independent placements p8 p49, though full financial benefits will take time to materialise p5.
South Gloucestershire
The council plans to re-balance SEND spending by directing more High Needs funding into mainstream settings while protecting support for the most complex needs, tracked via the percentage of High Needs spend going directly into mainstream settings p31. It continues an annual £2.2m Schools-to-High-Needs block transfer funding Cluster Funds for early intervention, with this approach extended through to 2028/29 p118, alongside broader aims to "stabilise finances and improve value for money" p27.
South Tyneside
The council does not target full balance by a set date, but aims to reduce High Needs Block growth relative to projected trends, rising from £37.8m (2025/26) to £40.7m by 2027/28 p12. This is supported by stronger commissioning, earlier intervention through EAH, tighter demand control for high-cost support, sufficiency planning, and reduced INMSS spend (from £7.97m to £7.83m) and controlled MSS cost growth (£14.6m to £16.4m) by 2027/28 p12.
Staffordshire
Staffordshire plans to rebalance its High Needs Block by shifting funding towards mainstream inclusion and reducing reliance on costly independent/out-of-county placements, using a £3.6m block transfer from the Schools Block for 2026–27 to fund early intervention and inclusion activity p85. It is also investing High Needs capital in a 0–25 sufficiency programme, developing Enhanced Resource Bases and mainstream inclusion capacity so more children with EHCPs can be supported locally, reducing travel and placement costs p86. No single target date for full balance is stated.
Stoke-on-Trent
The council aims to stabilise High Needs expenditure and reach a balanced in-year position by 2030 p7, through improved place sufficiency, consistent thresholds and reduced avoidable demand p7. It has already reduced its forecast deficit by £4.2m in 2025/26 p5 and made a 0.5% Schools Block to High Needs Block transfer (£1.3m) for 2026–27 to support inclusion and reduce reliance on independent placements p26.
Wigan
Wigan plans to stabilise and recover its High Needs deficit through a SEND financial transition and sustainability plan with short-, medium- and long-term demand and cost controls, alongside investment in early intervention and mainstream inclusion (OAIP, inclusion support, specialist bases) to reduce reliance on specialist/independent placements p49. This is supported by a £1,419,000 block transfer into the High Needs Block for 2026/27 to accelerate reform p45. No specific target year for full balance is stated p5.
Wirral
Wirral aims to stabilise finances by "living within its means" while shifting investment upstream into early intervention, prevention and mainstream inclusion p12. Over the next three years it plans to strengthen annual reviews, target high-cost plans, and reduce reliance on costly out-of-area placements, aiming to reduce cost growth in High Needs expenditure, with success shown through shifting spend towards mainstream, post-16 in-Borough, and on-site Alternative Provision p12. Full culture and funding realignment is targeted for 2029 p52.
Wolverhampton
The council aims to reduce High Needs Block costs and slow high-cost escalation by investing earlier, strengthening mainstream inclusion, and aligning capital, workforce and commissioning decisions, while still meeting statutory duties p3. It sets a goal of an improved High Needs budget position from the existing baseline by 2029 p3. No Schools Block to High Needs Block transfer has been made for 2026–27, with delivery instead funded through existing High Needs Block funding and national reform grants p20.
Worcestershire
The council relies on securing an anticipated £162.7m High Needs Stability Grant from central government to address the Dedicated Schools Grant High Needs Block deficit p34. It plans a DSG deficit management and recovery plan, regular monitoring of High Needs expenditure, strengthened governance, and possible participation in a Safety Valve or Delivering Better Value programme p34. A £2.4m Schools-to-High-Needs block transfer is also agreed for 2026/27 p24. No specific balance date is stated.
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