LONDON, Feb. 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

Thousands more children with SEND will get the support that helps them achieve and thrive under new government action to end spirallingindependentspecial school costs and reinvest funding where it makes the biggest difference to pupils' life chances.

It comes ahead of the Government's schools white paper, which will be a golden opportunity to change the course of children's lives for the better, moving away from a one size fits all approach to one where every child belongs and where high standards and inclusion are two sides of the same coin.

Independent special schools charge an average of £63,000 per child per year - more than twice the £26,000 cost of a state special school. Yet there is no evidence children do any better. Over 30% of these schools are backed by private equity firms, with public money intended for children and young people with the most complex needs instead flowing into private profit.

For the first time, clear national price bands and strengthened standards will ensure every specialist placement delivers real progress for children - not higher bills for councils - ending the postcode lottery that families have faced in securing high-quality SEND support.

Demand for SEND support has risen sharply in recent years, driving an over-reliance on expensive independent special school placements. Today's measures will reset the specialist sector so that funding is focused on what matters most - high-quality education, betterprogressand stronger life chances for children.

And for those children who we know can thrive in mainstream schools with the right support, new research shows that children with SEND perform half a grade better at GCSE than their peers in special schools.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:

For too long, families have faced a postcode lottery - fighting for support that depends on where they live, not what their child needs. That ends now.

We're cracking down on providers who put profit before children. New standards and proper oversight will ensure every independent special school placement delivers real outcomes for children - not unreasonable bills for local authorities.

This is about building a system where every child with SEND can achieve and thrive, at a school that's right for them and delivers the life chances they deserve.

Under the plans:

* New national price bandswill end unjustified fee variation for the same provision, giving councils the confidence to challenge poor value placements. * New statutory SEND-specific standardswill ensure every independent special school delivers consistent, high-quality support and clear outcomes for pupils. * Full cost transparencywill show exactly how public money is spent. * Local authorities will have a formal sayon new or expanding independentprovisionso places are created where childrenactually needthem.

Where special schools are the right setting for children with the most complex needs, the new framework will ensure places are high-quality, locallyplannedand financially sustainable.

CllrLouiseGittins, Chair of the LGA,said:

It is good the Government has set out plans to regulate independent special schools andmeasures to control costs.

While in some cases an independent school can be the best place for a child to attend, it is wrong that when councils' own costs are soaring that some providers aresetting unreasonablyhigh pricesandmaking significant profits from state-funded placements.

To reduce the reliance on independent special schools,we look forward tothe Government's Schools White Paper ensuringmore children with SEND get the care and support they need in schools and other mainstream settings.

These measurescomplement work already underwayto create an inclusive education system, including£3.7 billionto deliver 60,000 specialist places in mainstream schools and £200 million to trainallteachers and teaching assistants to support pupils with SEND.

This forms the foundations of the government's reform plans, centred around the belief that children with SEND can thrive in mainstream settings with the right support.

For example, when looking atcomparablepupils with EHCPs, the data shows thatnot only arethosein mainstreamschoolsconsiderablymorelikely to be entered intoGCSE exams, but those whoare,achievearound half a GCSE grade higher in English and maths thantheir peersin special schools.

That'sa half a grade which couldmeanthe difference between a pass or failat one of the most important academic milestones.

The forthcoming Schools White Paper will build on these reforms, setting out further action to strengthen oversight, improve inclusion and ensure public funding is directed to the support that delivers the best outcomes for children and young people.

NOTES TO EDITORS - Data referenced can be found HERE

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