Rising Send costs will ‘bankrupt’ four in five English local authorities, leaders say

The government is expected to publish a long-awaited education white paper in the coming weeks setting out its proposals to overhaul the Send system. Photograph: 10,000 hours/Getty Images

Four in five English local authorities will be in effect bankrupted by rising special educational needs spending unless the government introduces significant reforms to the system, council leaders have said.

Councils have called on ministers to write off special educational needs and disability (Send) deficits accumulated by local authorities over the past few years. These are projected to reach £14bn in two years’ time.