Rapid rise in children needing SEND support

THE number of Newcastle children needing support with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has skyrocketed since 2017, figures show.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

As of December 2025, there were 3,206 children and young people in the city with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), a legal document setting out their additional needs.

That number marks a 23% increase from 2,611 in 2023 and is just under 150% higher than in 2017, Newcastle City Council reports.

There have been severe warnings across the country for years about the rapidly escalating demand for special needs support and the resulting strain being put on both stretched local services and underpressure council finances. In Newcastle, local authority officials have apologised in the past 18 months for leaving families waiting beyond the statutory 20-week deadline to issue a child’s EHCP after a request is made.

Across the country, councils are expected to rack up a combined deficit in the SEND system of £14bn by the end of 2027/28.