What does the SEND Deficits announcement mean?

The Government intends to address councils' accumulated SEND deficits by:

• Covering 90% of councils’ accumulated SEND deficits.

• Providing a grant in Autumn 2026 to enable councils to clear these deficits.

However, this funding is conditional:

• Each local authority must submit a local SEND reform plan

• The plan must be approved by the Department for Education (DfE)

Local areas have been asked to assess their current arrangements for their local SEND reform plans to measures progress across multiple pillars, including co‑production with parents, carers, children, and young people.

The guidance from the DfE and NHS England emphasises that co‑production should be embedded throughout the development of each local SEND reform plan. Parent Carer Forums, as the recognised voice of parent carers in every local area, are therefore expected to be key partners in shaping strategic priorities, identifying gaps in provision, and influencing decisions.

The Bracknell PCF are waiting for this to happen locally.

BFC Press release link

https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/news/2026/02/update-send-funding?fbclid=IwY2xjawQIGy1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETB1Vm1xOUFaNzBseFJ1amM2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjBGa-fhomleuDrGihJhfR3d8mXLxQsX5dQHJXyFWVh24kjDuive35s5yzVb_aem_jYaUjtzkMLZ82k8AqGmaHg

Link to Government press release:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2026-2027-to-2028-2029?fbclid=IwY2xjawQIG19leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETB1Vm1xOUFaNzBseFJ1amM2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHugsxvInjeqWT8c3MjSQTJE3qAWS4TJJ9A4vIwWdUQtr8_ToeEPUfo-uVXcu_aem_up42hfim_Plcpx4zB5o0Bw#support-for-local-authorities-for-dedicated-schools-grant-deficits

Link to Explanatory note on the government’s approach Dedicated Schools Grant deficits:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/explanatory-note-on-the-governments-approach-to-dedicated-schools-grant-deficits/explanatory-note-on-the-governments-approach-dedicated-schools-grant-deficits?fbclid=IwY2xjawQIG31leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETB1Vm1xOUFaNzBseFJ1amM2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgdz7noYdObs2h4OCOuePuLqZDNTiFwmJl4Fvng0si5vGMJ4JftUCwVp6X4x_aem_cfoz7WzRB_VUvDn9f2VSlg