The National Audit Office report "Support for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs" describes growing SEND deficits across English local authorities and notes that almost half of councils would be at risk of effective bankruptcy without a temporary statutory override keeping deficits off their balance sheets. It explains that councils have statutory duties to provide SEND support and home-to-school transport, which has driven substantial overspending on high needs budgets.

Leicestershire County Council is pressing the Government for a better deal for local government, as special educational needs and disability support (SEND) demand rockets. The council’s cabinet considered a financial update report which also covered plans to overhaul local government funding. This is set to increase this year’s SEND budget deficit to £45m - £30m more than expected – clearly highlighting that the Government grant doesn’t cover the cost of demand.

The chart shows where the council spends its money: it breaks down the council's £1.3bn gross spend and shows most money is spent on adult social care, children's social care and children's services and special educational needs and disabilities. Our four-year proposals earmark £131m extra for social care - 20 percent more than previous forecasts, to manage rising demand for support for vulnerable people. The consultation is now closed. It ran from 17 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. The full council will agree its budget on 18 February 2026.

A Leicestershire County Council report on SEND reforms states that the Government’s Schools White Paper and SEND Reform consultation set out national changes to education and SEND, aiming to raise standards and rebalance investment.[2] It notes: "The reforms do not currently require changes to the Council’s Budget and Policy" and that approval of a local SEND Reform Plan is required for access to High Needs Stability Grant funding to address historic DSG deficits of up to around £100m.[2] The report discusses national Department for Education policy and funding mechanisms but does not mention Reform UK or attribute council SEND investment decisions to Reform UK policies.[2]

HM Treasury’s Budget 2025 document includes measures on SEND funding and deficits. It states that from 2028-29 "responsibility for all future deficits will pass from councils to central government" and that these future deficits are estimated to reach £6 billion in the first year. The budget explains that current SEND deficits remain the responsibility of local authorities until 2028-29, with councils expected to manage costs incurred before that date.

BBC News reports that Leicestershire County Council expects to overspend its overall budget by £8.1m this year, largely due to "unprecedented" demand for SEND services and rising numbers of education, health and care plans.[1] Dan Harrison, identified as the leader of Reform UK within the council, has written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves warning SEND costs could reach 20% of the council’s budget by 2028-29 and calling for more government funding.[1] The piece frames Reform UK figures as critics pressing the government for more SEND funding; it does not state that existing or planned council SEND investments, including any £30m figure, are being made because of a Reform UK policy or proposal.[1]

The Institute for Government commentary on central government’s takeover of SEND deficits explains that under the proposed model, councils remain responsible for all SEND costs incurred before 2028-29 and must shoulder the upfront costs. It notes that over the past five years, a statutory override has temporarily kept SEND deficits off councils’ books, preventing almost half of local authorities from declaring effective bankruptcy. The article highlights that councils face incentives and pressures to invest in SEND services now, even though any future savings will accrue to central government.

Leicestershire County Council has raised concerns that it may struggle to achieve a balanced budget in the upcoming year, as expenditures are projected to exceed revenues by £23 million. The authority, led by Reform UK, indicated that it would likely need to tap into its financial reserves to address this shortfall, estimating total spending at around £656 million, while only securing £633 million in funding. The council noted that these initiatives are in the preliminary stages, primarily targeting reductions in social care costs and support children with educational needs and disabilities.

The Department for Education consultation document "SEND reform: putting children and young people first" outlines national reforms and funding streams for SEND. It states: "Over the next three years we will invest £1.6 billion to make the mainstream system more inclusive" and notes that "£7 billion more [will be] spent on SEND support compared to 2025-26" with DfE budgets increasing by £3.5 billion in 2028-29. The document describes national programmes such as the Inclusive Mainstream Fund and capital investment for new SEND places but does not mention Reform UK or link local council investment decisions to any Reform UK policy.

The County Councils Network "Manifesto for Change" section on Children’s Services & SEND sets out proposals for central government to reform and properly fund SEND. It calls for a comprehensive reform programme to the SEND system and specifically urges government to "invest to support local authorities in rebalancing spending on children’s services towards early intervention" and to review whether councils have enough funds to meet demand. The document does not refer to Reform UK; it presents cross-party sector advocacy rather than party-specific policy.

The Reform UK leader of Leicestershire County Council has been re-elected to continue running the party's minority administration. Mr Harrison said he was "delighted to be re-elected" and that his administration had focused on paying down debt and protecting services. The council, which he leads, has a budget of about £1.3bn and has faced rising costs, particularly for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services.

Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Hinckley and Bosworth, has raised further concerns around the impact of the “chaos” at Leicestershire County Council cabinet, and its potential impact on services such as social care and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision. Questions have been raised over the Reform group’s plan for social care, as over 70% of the County Council's budget is spent on providing support and provision to residents. Local Government reforms being pushed through by the Labour Government would see areas such as Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland with a two-tier council structure merge to become a unitary authority.

On its official website section about fair funding, Leicestershire County Council explains that it has "planned ahead for reduced funding" and saved £230m but faces tightening budget pressures as demand for services, including for vulnerable people, increases.[5] The council states that if it were funded at the same level as some other authorities (e.g. Surrey, Camden), it would be tens or hundreds of millions of pounds better off, and notes that it has been pressing the government for a change to the funding model since 2016.[5] The page links funding pressures and savings to central government grant levels and demand, not to any policies or proposals from Reform UK.[5]

The Local Government Association briefing "Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform" describes how councils are "consistently overspending on this service, diverting funds from other priorities to manage the growing financial burden." It notes that demand for SEND support and home-to-school transport has risen sharply and argues that additional, sustainable funding from central government is required. The LGA discusses pressures on local authority budgets and national reforms but does not attribute council SEND investment decisions to Reform UK policies.

Your Reform UK Administration at Leicestershire County Council has paid off £26.9 MILLION of debt inherited from the previous Conservative administration. This means we are saving more than £3 MILLION a year in interest payments – money that can now be spent on local services, including supporting children with SEND and vulnerable adults. This is a real example of how Reform delivers for residents by cutting waste and redirecting funds to frontline services.

Opposition councillors have said they are sceptical. Reform UK-led Leicestershire County Council has said it has identified up to £60m of potential annual savings after carrying a major cost-cutting review. The report states that investment is needed to achieve the savings. It doesn’t state how much this investment is or the timescales.

A report from Local Government East of England, "SEND Reform Welcomed – But Success Hinges on Workforce and Funding", welcomes national SEND reform proposals but stresses that success will depend on sufficient workforce and funding. It states that "additional funding for councils will also be essential to meet increasing demand for home-to-school transport for children with SEND" and highlights that many councils are considering significant investment or budget reallocations to meet statutory duties. The report discusses structural funding issues and does not link these investment decisions to Reform UK.

The House of Commons Library briefing "Special Educational Needs: support in England" provides an overview of the SEND system and the financial pressures on local authorities in England. It details how local councils are responsible for maintaining an education, health and care plan (EHCP) process and funding placements, and notes that rising demand and costs have led to substantial high needs budget deficits in many areas. The briefing does not attribute these pressures or councils’ investment responses to any single political party’s proposals, including Reform UK.

Financial documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service found that SEND costs are set to increase by £61.5m over the next four years. The council’s SEND budget deficit is also forecast to hit tens of millions of pounds as demand for special educational needs and disabilities support continues to rise.

The Financial Times article "Reform UK targets 'broken' system of council funding for special needs" reports on Reform UK’s criticism of the system used to fund council SEND provision. It notes that Reform-led councils argue that spending on SEND is "ballooning" and that they will spend more on social care than other services, but the piece focuses on Reform’s critique and desire to change the funding formula. The article does not state that Reform UK has proposed or adopted a policy requiring specific councils such as Leicestershire to invest a set amount (e.g. £30 million) in SEND services.

Reform UK is taking action to tackle the growing demand for SEND school places across our county. Plans are now moving forward for more than 250 new SEND places in south Leicestershire, helping support local families and children who have been let down for too long. It is absurd of Leicestershire County Council to spend £30 million building a new SEND school when a £2.5 million investment could have saved Melton Mowbray College and Theatre site. Instead, County Council officers and members spent time nitpicking the plans rather than backing a more cost-effective solution.

A Facebook post from "UKIP NW Leicestershire" about local politics states: "In May last year, Reform UK became the largest party on Leicestershire County Council. A year & a bit later we've just paid off £26.9m of Tory ..."[6] The post comments on changes in political control and financial decisions but does not mention SEND specifically or any £30m SEND investment being made because of a Reform UK policy.[6] It is evidence of Reform UK’s local political role, not of causal linkage between Reform UK policy and specific SEND investment decisions by the council.[6]

This change is needed quickly and acutely, and these new multi-million-pounds of funding will allow Leicestershire County Council to create more specialist places for SEND children in our community. The funding comes from the Government’s national SEND capital programme, which is being allocated to local authorities, not from a Reform UK party policy at Westminster. Leicestershire County Council will be responsible for delivering the new places using this government grant.

An Instagram reel discussing national SEND reforms notes that "The Government has committed £4bn investment to strengthen support for children with SEND" and frames this as a national funding commitment intended to boost education and SEND services across local authorities.[9] The clip references local councils’ SEND provision in the context of government reforms but does not mention Leicestershire County Council acting because of Reform UK, nor any £30m SEND investment tied to Reform UK policy.[9]

The official Reform UK policies page sets out the party’s national platform, including positions on taxation, the NHS, immigration and governance. It emphasises reducing the size and cost of government and reviewing expenditure but contains no specific policy committing Reform UK to increase or require local council investment in SEND services. There is no mention of a pledge that individual county councils, such as Leicestershire, invest a fixed sum like £30 million into SEND because of Reform UK proposals.

Today, Reform-led Leicestershire County Council have confirmed that they are not proceeding with controversial proposals to stop commissioning specialist SEND nursery places. The Labour government is serious about supporting SEND children to thrive, which is why we've recently invested over £32 million for Lancashire, and millions more for other local authorities, through our national SEND funding programmes. This national funding is separate from local decisions taken by Reform-led councils on their own budgets.

The Government has committed £4bn investment to strengthen support for children with SEND. This will be a major boost for all education authorities who have struggled with rising demand. Local authorities such as Leicestershire County Council will receive allocations from this national pot, but how they manage their own budgets and deficits is a matter for each council. This £4bn commitment is a Government policy, not a Reform UK proposal.

Reform-led Leicestershire County Council recently announced plans to close multiple specialist SEND nurseries across the County. If implemented, local children with the most complex special educational needs and disabilities would likely go without the tailored support they desperately need. I’ve asked the Education Secretary to work alongside the Conservative Opposition on the council to help stop these damaging plans.

The review has identified 13 areas of opportunity to save and make money, resulting in a projected saving of £27.2m over the next four years once investment costs of £28m are taken into account. The council says it could save £60m in four years but will have to spend £28m to implement it, including investing in digital systems and service changes. These savings and investments are part of Leicestershire County Council’s internal transformation plans, not driven by any national party policy from Reform UK.

A LinkedIn article by a local government commentator titled "Reform UK local government council policies" reviews Reform UK’s statements about local councils. The author concludes that "there are limited policies put forward about Reform UK’s position" on education and children’s services and that the main themes are to "review expenditure" and "reduce expenditure." The piece notes that because much county council spending is on education and social care, Reform UK would need detailed action plans to achieve cuts, but no specific SEND investment commitments are identified.

Leicestershire County Council’s SEND budget deficit has grown substantially in recent years due to rising demand and inadequate central government funding. Local authorities commonly respond to these pressures by increasing their own spending and lobbying the national government for better funding formulas. There is no publicly documented national Reform UK policy that specifically requires or mandates a £30 million investment in SEND by Leicestershire County Council.