Why it matters: The government announced on Wednesday, 22 October, that it would delay reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, which were expected this autumn under the government's schools white paper but are now scheduled for early 2026.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the delays would allow for a "period of co-creation" with parents, educators, experts and other organisations.
The big picture: Councils across the country are struggling with the SEND system amid a significant and continued increase in demand for services, as well as the cost of delivering them.
Cllr Amanda Hopgood, of the Local Government Association (LGA), said the delays were disappointing. The LGA's membership covers some 315 out of 317 councils in England and Wales.
She said: "We have been urging the government to set out its reforms of the SEND system, and it should do this at the earliest opportunity.
"The system is failing children and families, while councils have been pushed to the brink by rising high needs deficits. Urgent reform is needed."
By the numbers: In Suffolk, the county council had delivered 10,625 education, care and health plans (EHCPs) as of March, 2,289 more than the previous year.
EHCPs are legally-binding documents which outline children and young people's needs and what support is needed to meet them.
The council is also having to grapple with a growing financial hole in its Dedicated Schools Grant, the total money the council gets from the government for education.
As it stands, councils can accumulate an overspend of the DSG reserve through a "statutory override" without it affecting their books.
Suffolk's DSG reserve is set to be £161 million in the red by the time the override runs out, in March.
The High Needs Block (HNB) gap alone – the proportion of education funding used on SEND services – is forecast to be overspent by as much as £64.4 million by February.
What they're saying: Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the union understood the decision but stressed the importance of the reforms.
He said: "Reforming the SEND system is of the utmost importance and the government cannot afford to get this wrong.
"It is critical that these reforms have the confidence of parents and schools – and it is sensible for the government to take the time to listen and get this right."
For context: The government's reforms were expected to address growing uncertainty over the future of council finances.
Suffolk County Council did not comment on the delay's impact on its finances and service delivery.
The bottom line: While education leaders understand the government's decision to delay SEND reforms for further consultation, Suffolk's councils face mounting financial pressure as demand continues to rise and overspends grow, with no immediate resolution in sight.
