Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding her Department is providing for targeted mainstream provision for SEND education in each of the financial years (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27 and (c) 2027-28.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

Overall schools funding is increasing by £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year and will total over £64.8 billion, compared to almost £61.6 billion in 2024/25. Most schools’ funding is not allocated or ring-fenced for specific purposes. Schools decide how to spend their budgets to meet their legal duties and other responsibilities, including support for their pupils with SEND.

Of the increase in total schools funding, £1 billion will be for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to over £12 billion. High needs funding is allocated by local authorities to schools for the costs of special educational needs support in excess of £6,000 per pupil per annum.

Decisions on future schools funding beyond 2025/26 will be taken following the forthcoming spending review.