Greenwich Council SEND Overhaul: £6.5m Transformation Greenwich 2026

Key Points

• Greenwich Council in South East London is launching a major transformation programme for its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services
• The council intends to appoint an external specialist consultancy partner as it lacks the “capacity or specialism” to deliver improvements in-house
• The SEND system in England is widely recognised as being in crisis, with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) increasing by nearly 80 per cent since 2018 according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies
• Councils are routinely struggling to provide the full range of support outlined in children’s EHCPs despite it being a legal requirement
• The transformation programme aims to improve user experience while helping the council save money and deliver services more efficiently and effectively
• Nearly 5 per cent of all school pupils in England now have an EHCP, representing an increase of 180,000 pupils (71 per cent) between 2018 and 2024
• High needs spending has consistently exceeded funding by £200m to £800m per year since 2018 to 2022, with local authority budget deficits for high needs provision currently estimated at £3.3bn
• The SEND Tribunal is backlogged with case numbers up from 3,000 appeals in 2014-15 to 18,000 in 2023-24

Greenwich (South London News) June 2, 2026 – The Royal Borough of Greenwich has revealed a multi-million pound project to overhaul and improve its services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), marking one of the most significant interventions in the borough’s children’s services in recent years.

The South East London authority hopes the SEND transformation project will improve the experience for users while also helping the council to save money and deliver services more efficiently and effectively, according to the council’s official announcement.

As reported by council officials, the SEND system in England is widely recognised as being in crisis due to the massive increase in demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) over the past few years. Last September, The Institute for Fiscal Studies highlighted that the amount of EHCPs had increased by nearly 80 per cent since 2018.

Meanwhile councils are routinely struggling to provide the full range of support outlined in a child’s EHCP despite it being a legal requirement, creating a substantial gap between statutory obligations and available resources.

Why does Greenwich Council need an externalpartner for this transformation?

The council intends to appoint a specialist external partner to help deliver the programme as it does not believe it currently has the “capacity or specialism” to carry out the required improvements in-house, according to official council documentation.

This admission reflects a broader trend across English local authorities. As reported by Andrew Crocombe following the IFS report publication,

“substantial reform is needed to create a financially sustainable and equitable SEND system”.

The decision to seek external expertise comes at a critical time. Funding for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities has risen by £4 billion over the past five years, according to a new report which found that nearly 5% of all school pupils now have an education, health and care plan (EHCP).

Drawing on data from the Department for Education, the report found that the number of school pupils with EHCPs increased by 180,000 (71%) between 2018 and 2024.

How severe is the national SEND crisis driving Greenwich’s decision?

The scale of the challenge facing Greenwich Council mirrors the national picture. Government spending for ‘high needs’ is currently £11bn per annum with a 59% real-term rise since 2015/16, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

However funding has not kept pace with the number of EHCPs. It is estimated that this spending will increase by a further £2 – £3bn annually up to 2027-28, with the Government only committing a further £1bn in the Autumn Budget.

High needs spending has been consistently higher than funding by £200m to £800m per year since 2018 to 2022 with local authority budget deficits for high needs provision currently estimated at £3.3bn.

The current ‘statutory override’ which keeps these costs off local authorities’ balance sheets is due to end in March 2026, creating additional pressure on councils like Greenwich.

What impact will the SEND transformation have on families and children in Greenwich?

The transformation programme aims to address pressing concerns faced by local families. In Greenwich specifically, demand for SEND support has never been higher, and it’s only going to increase, according to Councillor Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

Too many children are having to travel to high cost placements out of the borough, Councillor Khaireh stated. That’s why we’re stepping up with new schools and new facilities that will lead the way in what local specialist support can look like.

This record investment will transform the lives of children, young people and their families for decades to come, Councillor Khaireh added.

The SEND Tribunal is so backlogged with case numbers up from 3,000 appeals in 2014-15 to 18,000 in 2023-24, according to the IFS analysis. Depressingly, appeals registered in March 2024 were being listed for February 2025, demonstrating the severe delays families face when challenging decisions.

What broader SEND investments is Greenwich making alongside the transformation programme?

The transformation programme forms part of wider SEND investment in the borough. The Royal Borough of Greenwich has announced a major new investment of £36.4million in education for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, according to the council’s November 2025 announcement.

Subject to approval, £24million for the primary phase of the Rowan Wood all through SEND school at Gallions Mount and £12.4million for a multi-use SEND centre at Bexley Road, Eltham will ensure children and young people in Royal Greenwich have the right support to thrive, from their early years all the way through to adulthood.

The new Transition Learning Centre will be purpose built to meet demand for support for young people up to 25-years-old who have SEND.

This comes on top of existing investment for the secondary and post 16 phase of the all through school on Hargood Road, due to open in early 2026, which will provide 128 places for young people aged 11 to 19.

Together, these developments mark the borough’s biggest ever investment in SEND education, according to Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

We’ve worked hard to secure millions of pounds from developers so that every resident benefits from growth in our borough, Councillor Okereke said.

This record £36.4 million investment in SEND facilities is about Getting Things Done, and making sure more children are great in Greenwich and have the very best start in life.

Families have told us they need more support, and we’ve listened, Councillor Okereke added. This investment is about nailing the basics and building for the future.

How does the funding challenge affect Greenwich’s approach?

The investment comes from ringfenced grants and the Council’s negotiations with developers to secure £60million that it can use to focus on the things that it knows really matter to residents, according to the council.

The money is part of the council’s Getting Things Done drive which can’t be used to offset any future deficits.

This restriction on funding use reflects the broader financial pressures facing local authorities. Given the estimated annual increase in spending of £2bn to £3bn up to 2027/28, these increases imply cumulative local authority deficits of over £8bn by 2027 assuming high-needs funding is held constant in real terms, according to the IFS.

There are large regional variances partly due to identification practices which emphasise the need for a reform of the funding system to avoid a postcode lottery, the IFS report found.

In 2023, 13% of pupils in state-funded schools have SEN support, and 4% have been awarded an EHCP, according to government data.

Both proportions have increased since 2016, placing an additional demand on education authority finances at a time when there has been a 9% real-term fall in school funding since 2010.

Background: The SEND System Crisis Driving Greenwich’s Transformation Programme

The SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) system in England has reached a critical point, with multiple reports and official analyses documenting a system under severe strain.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies published a report titled “Spending on special needs in England: something has to change” which provides comprehensive data on the crisis.

The number of pupils with an EHCP has increased by 180,000 (71%) since 2018 with circa 5% of all pupils now having an EHCP, according to the IFS. This dramatic increase has occurred while councils are routinely struggling to provide the full range of support outlined in a child’s EHCP despite it being a legal requirement.

The percentage of pupils with an EHCP has increased to 5.3%, from 4.8% in 2024, according to recent data. The percentage of pupils with special educational needs support has also increased, placing additional pressure on already stretched resources.

Government spending for ‘high needs’ is currently £11bn per annum with a 59% real-term rise since 2015/16. However funding has not kept pace with the number of EHCPs, creating a substantial funding gap that local authorities must manage.

High needs spending has been consistently higher than funding by £200m to £800m per year since 2018 to 2022 with local authority budget deficits for high needs provision currently estimated at £3.3bn. This cumulative deficit represents one of the most significant financial challenges facing local government in England.

The SEND Tribunal backlog demonstrates the human cost of the system’s dysfunction. Case numbers rose from 3,000 appeals in 2014-15 to 18,000 in 2023-24. Depressingly, appeals registered in March 2024 were being listed for February 2025, meaning families faced nearly a year-long wait for their cases to be heard.

The IFS considers that substantial reform is needed to create a financially sustainable and equitable SEND system. This could include expansion of the core SEND provision, expansion of special school places, redistribution of funding, and possibly the reduction of the statutory obligations attached to EHCPs.

If that reform is not implemented, the IFS consider that it will be necessary to spend an extra £2-3bn per annum on the current system.

None of these findings are remotely surprising but shows the scale of the problem, according to Andrew Crocombe’s analysis of the IFS report.

The current ‘statutory override’ which keeps these costs off the LA’s balance sheets is due to end in March 2026. This change will force local authorities to recognise these deficits on their balance sheets, creating additional financial pressure.

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Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Families and Children With SEND in Greenwich

The SEND transformation programme will have significant implications for children, young people, and families across the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

For families with children requiring SEND support, the appointment of an external specialist partner could mean faster access to expertise and improved service delivery. The council has explicitly stated that the transformation aims to improve the experience for users while delivering services more efficiently and effectively.

Children who currently travel to high-cost placements outside the borough may benefit from improved local provision. Councillor Adel Khaireh identified this as a key issue, stating that too many children are having to travel to high cost placements out of the borough. The transformation programme, combined with the £36.4million investment in new facilities, aims to address this by providing more local specialist support.

Young people up to 25-years-old who have SEND will potentially benefit from the new Transition Learning Centre, which is purpose built to meet demand for this age group. This represents a significant expansion of support for young people transitioning to adulthood.

The 128 places at the secondary and post-16 phase of the all-through school on Hargood Road, due to open in early 2026, will provide additional capacity for young people aged 11 to 19. This should reduce waiting times for school placements.

However, the transformation programme faces the same national challenges affecting all councils. With high needs spending projected to increase by £2-3bn annually up to 2027-28 and government commitment limited to £1bn, the financial pressure will remain substantial.

The end of the statutory override in March 2026 means Greenwich, like all local authorities, will need to recognise high needs deficits on their balance sheets. This could constrain future spending decisions despite the transformation programme’s ambitions.

The 71% increase in EHCPs since 2018 shows no signs of slowing, meaning demand will continue to outpace available resources without significant national reform. Families may continue to face challenges accessing the full range of support outlined in their children’s EHCPs, despite the council’s improvement efforts.

The large regional variances in identification practices emphasise the need for funding system reform to avoid a postcode lottery. Greenwich families may experience different outcomes compared to families in other areas depending on local funding decisions and implementation success.