Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, has called for urgent reform of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision, highlighting the funding challenges facing local authorities and schools.

Speaking at the f40 Conference in Westminster last week, Ms Dyke emphasised the impact on rural counties like Somerset and urged the Government to take further action.

The f40 group, a cross-party campaign representing the lowest-funded education authorities in England, is advocating for a fairer funding model for both schools and SEND provision. Somerset is among the worst-funded areas in the country, receiving over £4,000 less per pupil than the best-funded local authorities.

At the same time, demand for SEND provision has risen sharply, with a 60% increase in placements in state-funded schools between 2014-15 and 2023-24. This has contributed to Somerset Council forecasting a SEND budget deficit of £290 million over the next five years.

The rise in demand for SEND provision is driven by several factors, including greater awareness and diagnosis of conditions such as autism and ADHD, legal changes extending EHCP support up to age 25, and increased parental appeals for support.

Schools are struggling to provide in-house support due to funding constraints, leading to more EHCP applications and higher costs for councils. Specialist school placements, transport costs, and therapy services have also risen sharply, putting further pressure on already stretched local authority budgets.

Ms Dyke acknowledged the Government's recent £1bn funding announcement but said it does not go far enough to address the issue.

Somerset Council has estimated that a £2.3bn investment is needed to maintain current services. She has previously called for long-term reforms to local government funding to ensure that councils can meet the demand for SEND and social care.

"It's widely agreed that the SEND system is broken, putting local authorities into huge deficits, costing schools, and most importantly failing some of the country's most vulnerable students," said Ms Dyke. "My inbox is frequently brimming with emails from parents concerned about the wellbeing of their child and scared that their needs are being left unmet."

Ms Dyke has expressed support for a national approach to SEND funding. The Liberal Democrats have proposed the creation of a National Body for SEND to oversee support for children with the highest needs, aiming to reduce inconsistencies in provision.

Under this plan, costs exceeding £25,000 per child would be covered nationally rather than by local councils, whose budgets are already under strain.

Additionally, the party has proposed reducing the financial burden on schools by halving their required SEND contribution from £6,000 to £3,000, which they argue would help ensure earlier intervention for children who need support.

In response to a National Audit Office report on SEND funding, Munira Wilson MP, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education, has urged the Government to address financial pressures on councils and ensure children receive timely support.

Ms Dyke added, "We need proper long-term reform of SEND. The current situation cannot possibly go on. Children's futures are at stake, and the most vulnerable are losing their right to a suitable education, affecting the rest of their lives."