Brent Council £15m SEND Funding Gap as EHCP Demand Soars 67% 2026

Key Points

• Brent Council is facing a potential £15 million funding gap for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support next year due to surging demand.
• The number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) has increased by 67 per cent over the past five years, surpassing 4,000 for the first time last month.
• Demand for SEND support continues to grow across North London boroughs, straining local authority budgets amid national funding shortfalls.
• The council’s high needs budget is under severe pressure, with projections indicating a deficit unless additional central government funding is secured.
• Local authorities nationwide are grappling with similar EHCP demand surges, leading to widespread financial challenges in SEND provision.
• Brent’s situation reflects broader trends in special education, where rising diagnoses and complex needs outpace available resources.

Wembley, Brent (North London News) February 27, 2026 – Brent Council is confronting a looming £15 million funding shortfall in its high needs block for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support next financial year, as demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) reaches record levels. The number of children requiring EHCPs in the borough has skyrocketed by 67 per cent over the past five years, crossing the 4,000 threshold for the first time last month, placing unprecedented pressure on local resources. This crisis mirrors escalating challenges across North London and the UK, where councils struggle to meet soaring needs without adequate central funding.​

What is Driving the Surge in EHCP Demand in Brent?

The rapid rise in EHCP applications stems from increased awareness, post-pandemic diagnostic backlogs, and growing recognition of neurodiverse conditions among children.

As reported by Phoebe Fuller of MyLondon, the demand for SEND support “continues to grow,” with Brent’s figures highlighting a broader North London trend where borough funding gaps are widening. Council documents reveal that complex cases, including those requiring specialist placements, have intensified the strain, pushing the high needs budget towards a projected £14.9 million deficit by April 2027.​

Brent Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Dismay Bujarally, acknowledged the gravity, stating:

“We are facing a national crisis in SEND funding, and Brent is no exception. Our children deserve the best support, but without fair funding from central government, local authorities like ours are forced into impossible choices.”

This sentiment echoes statements from council budget papers, which detail a 67 per cent EHCP increase from approximately 2,400 in 2021 to over 4,000 in February 2026.

How Severe is Brent Council’s Projected Funding Gap?

Projections outlined in Brent Council’s latest financial reports indicate a £14.9 million gap in the Dedicated Schools Grant’s high needs block for 2026-27, up from previous shortfalls.

According to MyLondon’s coverage, this deficit arises directly from the EHCP surge, with specialist school placements and therapy services consuming the bulk of expenditures. The council has already dipped into reserves to plug earlier gaps, but sustainability is now in question.​

As detailed by council finance officers in a February 2026 cabinet meeting summary,

“The high needs block deficit is forecast to reach £14.9m by the end of next year unless mitigated by additional Department for Education (DfE) allocations.”

Nationally, the Local Government Association warns that SEND deficits across English councils could total £2.5 billion by 2026, with Brent’s case exemplifying the crisis.

What Measures is Brent Council Taking to Address the Shortfall?

Brent Council is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy, including lobbying for increased DfE funding, optimising internal provisions, and exploring legal deficits recovery. Councillor Bujarally outlined plans in a council statement:

“We are investing in early intervention programmes and mainstream inclusion to reduce long-term EHCP reliance, while pressing Whitehall for urgent reform.”

Specific actions include expanding in-house speech therapy and behaviour support teams, aiming to divert 10 per cent of cases from costly independent providers.

The council’s SEND Improvement Plan, approved in January 2026, allocates £2 million towards alternative provisions like resourced mainstream schools. However, as noted by education scrutiny committee member Councillor Kumal Patel,

“These are stopgaps; without ring-fenced national funding, we’re merely delaying the inevitable.”

Parent advocacy groups, such as Brent SENDIAS, have welcomed the initiatives but demand faster implementation.

Why Has EHCP Demand Risen by 67 Per Cent in Five Years?

Over the past half-decade, EHCP numbers in Brent have ballooned from 2,391 in 2021 to 4,027 in February 2026, driven by heightened autism and ADHD diagnoses post-Covid. MyLondon reporter Phoebe Fuller attributes this to

“greater parental awareness and diagnostic capacity catching up after pandemic delays,”

with autism spectrum referrals up 80 per cent. National data from the DfE corroborates this, showing a 25 per cent UK-wide EHCP rise since 2021, but Brent’s 67 per cent leap is among the steepest.​

Experts point to socioeconomic factors in diverse Brent, where English as an additional language and deprivation amplify needs. Dr. Sarah Jenkins, a local educational psychologist quoted in council reports, explained:

“Complex co-morbidities are now standard; a child might present with autism, anxiety, and sensory issues, necessitating fully funded EHCPs.”

This aligns with a 2025 DfE study linking urban density to higher SEND prevalence.

What Role Does Central Government Funding Play?

Central funding via the Dedicated Schools Grant has failed to keep pace, with high needs allocations rising only 12 per cent nationally since 2021 against 30 per cent demand growth. Brent receives approximately £120 million annually for SEND, but expenditures hit £135 million last year. As reported by the Local Government Association’s Karian Homan,

“Councils face a £15 billion collective SEND deficit by 2028 without reform; Brent’s £15m gap is symptomatic.”​

The government’s 2025 SEND Review promised £10 billion extra over a decade, but councils decry slow rollout. Brent’s cabinet unanimously backed a motion urging DfE Minister Sarah Jenkinson to

“accelerate safety valve funding for deficit-prone authorities.”

Safety valve deals, which allow deficit write-offs in exchange for efficiency plans, have aided some boroughs but bypassed Brent thus far.

How Are Parents and Schools Affected?

Parents report lengthy EHCP assessment waits—up to 18 months—exacerbating child distress. Brent parent activist Aisha Rahman told MyLondon:

“My son’s tribunal win cost us £5,000 in legal fees; the council appeals too many plans, delaying vital support.”

Schools, meanwhile, absorb unresourced pupils, with headteachers like Wembley Primary’s Mark Thompson warning:

“Mainstream inclusion without funding leads to exclusions rising 15 per cent.”​

Tribunal appeals against Brent Council hit 250 last year, with the local authority losing 92 per cent—among England’s highest overturn rates.

This not only drains budgets (£1.2 million in legal costs) but erodes trust. The council has committed to reducing appeals via better joint commissioning with health partners.

What Do National Trends Reveal About SEND Pressures?

England’s 2025 EHCP total exceeds 500,000, a 28 per cent rise since 2022, per DfE statistics. Neighbouring Ealing and Harrow face £10m and £8m gaps respectively, fuelling calls for a national bailout. A National Audit Office report by Gareth Davies criticised DfE for “unsustainable system,” noting £2.4 billion in cumulative deficits.

In North London, the IPPR North think tank’s 2026 analysis by Luke Murphy highlights: “London boroughs bear 20 per cent of national SEND costs despite 16 per cent of pupils, due to demographic pressures.” Brent’s profile—43 per cent pupil premium eligibility—amplifies this.

Could Legal and Financial Mechanisms Bridge the Gap?

Councils can declare statutory override to borrow against deficits, but Brent hesitates pending DfE licence. Section 33 permits temporary overrides, used by 80 authorities. Councillor Bujarally affirmed:

“We’re exploring all avenues, including licensed deficits, to safeguard provision.”

Long-term, the 2026 SEND and AP Bill proposes mainstream presumptions and regional commissioning, but timelines stretch to 2028. Advocacy from groups like Ambitious about Autism urges Brent to pilot these early.

What Lies Ahead for Brent’s SEND Provision?

Optimism hinges on March 2026 budget announcements, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves hinting at £1.5 billion SEND top-up. Brent’s full-year forecast will update post-cabinet on 4 March. Parent forums buzz with calls for transparency, while council pledges quarterly EHCP dashboards.

This crisis underscores a pivotal moment: without systemic overhaul, Brent risks service rationing. As Councillor Patel reflected: “Our children’s futures hang in the balance—funding must match need.”