Putting children first in SEND funding: Challenges and a path forward

The provision of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services faces immense strain from rising demand and tight budgets. At The Future Forum in Stratford-upon-Avon, hosted recently by The MJ and the National Audit Office (NAO), local authority leaders and SEND advocates came together to discuss critical challenges and explore solutions that put children first.

Emma Willson, director of the NAO’s Education Value for Money Team, highlighted how, despite government improvement plans, the need for consistent, equitable funding solutions remains critical. With “a burning platform” beneath the sector, as one attendee noted, local authorities face balancing immense SEND deficits while striving to provide effective support for young people with special needs.

The need for fair and transparent funding reform

The consensus from leaders was clear: funding reform must address both rising demands and constrained resources. With Formulate, Imosphere offers a transparent, needs-based funding solution that equips local authorities to allocate SEND resources fairly. This data-driven approach not only improves the quality of Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) but empowers councils to make consistent decisions that better meet individual needs.

As one delegate pointed out, the current system leaves many councils in financial uncertainty, putting them in limbo and at risk of Section 114 notices without a sustainable solution. Tools like Formulate for SEND help to bridge this gap, bringing transparency and consistency to a system under strain.

Evidence-based insights for improved SEND outcomes

Attendees stressed the importance of data to drive efficient, outcome-focused decision-making. There was consensus around the need for early intervention and prevention to reduce EHCP demand before it reaches a crisis point. A recurring theme was the importance of integrating cross-departmental insights, where educational, healthcare, and local government data work together to support the complex needs of SEND youth.

Formulate by Imosphere is specifically designed to support this integration, providing councils with actionable data insights that improve EHCP quality and promote sustainable SEND funding allocations. With real-time monitoring and customisable funding bands, Formulate helps councils anticipate and plan for changing needs, ensuring resources are aligned with individual requirements while avoiding budget overspend.

Fostering a culture of trust and collaboration

Local authorities voiced concerns about a lack of unified support across departments, especially regarding healthcare collaboration. A clear message emerged: councils need both the tools and cross-agency accountability to effectively manage SEND services. As one delegate aptly summarised, “We need a multi-disciplinary approach, but austerity has fractured it.”

Formulate’s collaborative benchmarking feature encourages councils to share best practices and learn from what’s worked in other regions, enabling evidence-based, budget-conscious improvements across England. As local authorities adopt Formulate, they benefit from a scalable, nationally-ready solution that fosters consistency and transparency, strengthening public trust in SEND funding decisions.

Empowering local authorities with future-proof tools

Already trusted by a growing number of leading local authorities, Formulate equips councils with the real-time data, monitoring, and automated needs assessments to meet the evolving demands of a national SEND framework. With ongoing support and updates, Formulate empowers councils to adapt quickly and to proactively respond to changing needs.

Prioritising children’s needs requires a holistic, data-driven approach, and Formulate from Imosphere provides the insights and flexibility needed for every funding decision.

Ready to see the impact? Get in touch to schedule a demo or a free consultation today.