Cost of Kent private SEND places soars by 429%

Summarised from BBC Kent's report · Updated 5 Nov, 06:55 · Archive

Spending by Kent County Council on private special educational needs places has risen from £27.6m to £143.7m in six years.

Spending by Kent County Council on private special educational needs (SEND) places has soared by 429% between 2019-20 and 2025-26, from £27.6m to £143.7m. The data was obtained through freedom of information requests by a former head teacher, who said 27% of pupils attending special schools in Kent were being educated privately.

The former head teacher identified two main drivers: the number of children assessed as needing special schools has risen but the council lacks capacity to provide places; and tribunal appeals by parents seeking special school placements have a success rate of around 90%. KCC acknowledged the pressures came from increasing costs and tribunal decisions which do not have to take local resources into account, describing these as national issues. The council said it was working with the government and families to address the situation.

The Department for Education has two new SEND schools planned for Kent, in Whitstable and Swanley, but both have been delayed.

Read the report

• Cost of private SEND places up by 429%, data showsKent County Council says pressures are national and two new schools will increase local provision.BBC Kent · 5 Nov, 05:59

In this story: Kent County Council · Department for Education · Kent · Whitstable · Swanley · Peter Read

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