Community has welcomed the government’s announcement of a £4 billion investment into the SEND system over the next three years.
This investment, tied to the upcoming Every Child Achieving and Thriving white paper, is designed to move support away from ‘crisis management’, and towards early, local intervention.
Helen Osgood, Community’s Operations Director and National Secretary for Education and Early Years said:
“Community warmly welcomes the Government’s SEND White Paper as a meaningful step toward ensuring every child receives the support they deserve. Teachers see first-hand the difference the right provision makes, and we are encouraged by a shared commitment to inclusivity, clarity, and better outcomes for children and families. Together, we can build a system that truly supports all learners to thrive.
“This is truly a significant sum of money. We have always said that reform of the SEND system would only be possible with significant investment. This new money will secure provision for the most vulnerable children and allow nurseries, schools and colleges to meet their needs.”
Martin Hodge, Community’s Head of Education Policy, said:
“Today’s announcement heralds a transformative investment in the SEND system – something we have long called for.
“This shows that the Labour government is serious about prioritising the kind of early intervention which we know can make a meaningful difference for children and our members in education who support them.”
Key pillars of the announcement made today include:
Inclusive Mainstream Fund (£1.6bn): Direct funding for early years, schools, and colleges to provide immediate support — such as small group language interventions and adaptive teaching — without waiting for a formal diagnosis.
Experts at Hand Service (£1.8bn): A new bank of specialists, including speech and language therapists and SEND teachers, available to schools on demand. Once fully rolled out, an average secondary school is expected to gain the equivalent of 160 days of specialist time per year.
Expanded Capacity: The creation of 60,000 new specialist places and a requirement for all teachers to receive comprehensive SEND training, backed by £200m.
Community Support: £200m for Best Start Family Hubs to provide dedicated SEND outreach, ensuring support starts at the earliest possible stage.
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