England school funding: new IFS report shows SEND absorbing much of the increase

A new Institute for Fiscal Studies report published on 24 September 2026 gives an updated picture of school funding in England and the growing share being absorbed by special educational needs and disabilities support.

IFS projects that school funding per pupil will rise by about 9% in real terms between 2025–26 and 2028–29. It says rising demand for SEND support will absorb a substantial share of that increase. The report says the government has allocated an additional £3.5 billion from the schools budget for SEND by 2028–29; after planned SEND additions are stripped out, mainstream school funding per pupil is projected to rise by around 3% in real terms over the period.

The funding commitments are real. Department for Education material says SEND support in 2028–29 will be £7 billion higher than in 2025–26, including investment in Experts at Hand and the Inclusive Mainstream Fund.

The status matters. This is an independent fiscal report, not a new law or school rule. England’s wider SEND system reforms remain subject to consultation. Government guidance says the current system continues while reform is developed, with new legislation expected from September 2029.

For inclusion, the important point is that a larger headline schools budget does not automatically mean the same increase is available for ordinary mainstream costs. The IFS analysis shows how much of the growth is tied to meeting rising SEND need.

Sources: Institute for Fiscal Studies, ‘The outlook on school funding in England’, 24 September 2026: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/outlook-school-funding-england. Department for Education, SEND reform and Experts at Hand guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-send-reform-developing-the-experts-at-hand-offer/developing-and-delivering-the-experts-at-hand-offer-in-year-1-supporting-guidance