Funding Change: The Future of SEND Insights From a SEND Finance Officer
07 May, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- About the roles and responsibilities of a SEND Finance Officer.
- The importance of accurate data and budget management for SEND services.
- What the upcoming Labour government’s white paper could mean for the future of SEND.
- How to find and apply for the best SEND jobs.
The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) sector is entering a period of change and opportunity with renewed focus on improving support for children and young people with SEND.
With Labour preparing to publish a white paper outlining proposed changes to address deficits in local authorities and within the SEND system, there is hope for meaningful improvements and better outcomes in the SEND sector.
To gain insights on financial challenges, upcoming reforms and what effective SEND support looks like, we interviewed a SEND Finance Officer with 25 years experience.
SEND Finance Officers help to manage and monitor the money allocated to support children and young people with SEND and help local authorities and educational settings prepare for future needs. This SEND Finance Officer shares her thoughts on upcoming reform and the future of SEND funding.
Tell us about your career journey so far and your current role
I have worked in SEND education for over 25 years. Most of this time was spent in a special education provision in East London. As the provision grew so did my career. I completed the School Business Managers diploma which saw my role evolve and I became more involved in the financial procedures of the group. I had amazing support and encouragement from the people I worked with.
I then became the Group Finance Officer which allowed me to see where the budget was being spent and contribute to the future financial planning of the provisions as they grew but budgets continued to decrease.
Having great managers who were innovative in the provisions offered allowed us to provide a good SEND provision for the local young people we supported. It was challenging but very rewarding as a great provision can provide amazing rewards and experiences for young people unable to access mainstream education.
What does a typical day as a SEND Finance Officer entail?
In my current role as a SEND Finance Officer for the local authority, I ensure that spending in the SEND departments is recorded and monitored effectively and accurately. This is to ensure public records accurately reflect the SEND provisions spending within the local authority offer, as precise data is paramount for correctly recording departmental expenditure.
A typical day for me involves processing invoices for the department and raising purchase orders to allow for accurate forecasting of annual costs. I also train colleagues on the various pieces of software we use to ensure data is recorded accurately and efficiently to align with budget monitoring. I also liaise with parents to ensure we have the correct information and so I can make a prompt payment to them for costs in their child’s EHCP provision.
No day is the same and the work is demanding but rewarding. Most of the children and families we serve are happy with the outcomes of their SEND journey with the local authority.
How has SEND provision changed over the past 12 months and where do you see it heading?
Over the past 12 months, SEND provision in England has faced significant challenges, mainly due to increase in demand and financial pressures. The number of children with Education, Health Care plans (EHCP’s) has continued to significantly increase in the last 10 years and this continues to place strain on local authority budgets and most are projecting significant overspends.
I think major reform is needed to ensure fair and accessible SEND provisions are available to meet the increasing demand.
The 2025 Labour government has introduced several educational and SEND reforms. How do you think Labour will impact SEND and local authorities?
Labour’s white paper, which is expected out in late Spring 2025, proposes a ‘complete recalibration’ to alleviate financial strains and enhance state school provisions. Some of these reforms have been met with criticism from parents’ groups concerned with diminished support. The trajectory of SEND provision will depend on the implementation and reception of these reforms.
The government commitment to the extra funding proposed for SEND provisions is to hopefully increase specialist places in mainstream schools and to hopefully address current challenges around lack of appropriate school places. This will require careful planning, substantial investment and collaboration amongst stakeholders.
How might SEND provision change under Labour’s government and what reforms do you hope to see in 2025?
I hope to see change around early intervention and more inclusive approaches from schools. A more collaborative approach between schools and local authorities around place planning and school admissions will hopefully provide a unified system with efficiencies around addressing the needs of young people with SEND.
Enhancing inclusivity in mainstream schools means they can offer appropriate focused support and ensure special school places are for young people with more complex needs.
The success of these reforms will depend on effective implementation, adequate funding and collaboration among educators, parents and policy makers. I think continuous assessment and adaptation will be essential to ensure the needs of young people with SEND are met effectively.
How do you keep up-to-date with changes in the SEND industry?
It’s so important to keep up to date on national issues around SEND as it could impact you locally. I attend any talks and training that the local authority and my team provide that will keep me up to date and inform me of any changes. This allows us to address how changes will face us as a team and organisation.
I also follow SEND informative groups on LinkedIn, who regularly provide updates around policy and changes proposed in SEND. They also provide lived experience of all people involved in SEND which allows you to see where the actual challenges are in the current broken system.
What do you find most fulfilling about your role?
Since I started this role, I have learnt so much due to the supportive people I work with and having the necessary tools to be able to do my job effectively. I have created and contributed to most of the processes we currently use as a team to ensure our spend is recorded accurately and regularly monitored.
My role is labour intensive due to the various procedures in place for financial monitoring and I understand the need for accurate data recording. It’s vital that we do our jobs to the best of our abilities for the children and families we support and the schools and provisions we work with. Accurate data is key to allow us to do our jobs effectively and adhere to our statutory duties within our roles.
I have received copies of emails from parents and schools that have been sent to senior management and councillors praising the work I do. Receiving feedback that I have got it right is very rewarding and motivates me to keep doing what I am doing.
I am always looking for ways to improve our practices to benefit us as a team. I have learned you need to be proactive in your approach to ensure change is accepted and utilised for the purpose it was intended.
What challenges do you believe councils and the SEND sector will face with the new labour government?
The new labour government has not provided a detailed solution to financial pressures and deficits which could lead to more local authorities struggling to sustain SEND provision and having to cut more services.
There is also the lack of qualified staff, capacity issues in mainstream schools and more pressure on special schools and alternative provision. Without proper investment and adequate training for staff, schools may fail to provide provision for young people with complex needs.
I think there needs to be significant changes and system reform in how SEND is identified and supported. It will probably take years to show tangible improvements, but with effective collaboration between local authorities, schools, NHS and social care, I believe progress is possible.
Can you share an example of a challenging situation you’ve faced in your SEND career and how you resolved it?
I have experienced many challenges in my current role - sometimes it feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week!
The main challenge I’ve found as an interim member of a team for a local authority and working from home is making sure I’m seen and heard regularly. I make sure to always attend team meetings and training provided for the team and ensure I share any issues with my line manager immediately so we can work on them together to get a resolution.
There is no point in sitting silent and just trying to plough through your work and issues. It is through sharing that a positive outcome can be gained.
What's the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt in your career so far?
I think being proactive and open to new ideas is the best way forward and can create a positive change for all. I learnt to embrace training offered to you, as you are guaranteed to learn something that you did not know that will benefit you in your role in some way.
Training that was not necessarily finance based has offered me valuable insights into our spending, national trends and various other issues I might not have considered whilst performing my job.
What’s your vision for the future of SEND services?
An ideal future in SEND is one where every child receives timely, high quality and needs based support, regardless of where they live or level of need. A system that must be properly funded, inclusive and proactive rather than reactive would transform outcomes for children, families and educators.
What excites me most about the future of local authority SEND is:
- More trained staff in Early Years provision would significantly improve outcomes.
- Moving from crisis driven support to early identification of needs will reduce the need for EHC plans and ensure children get the right help before challenges escalate.
- Labour’s focus on making mainstream schools more inclusive and well resourced. If properly funded, this could reduce the need for an EHCP and allow the provision to be more equitable.
- Better integration between education, health and social care. A more uniformed approach and better communication would allow for a more streamlined process for families which could cut delays in assessment and support to be offered.
- Strengthening the SEND workforce. Investing in training, recruitment and retention of quality trained staff will ensure local authorities can meet increasing demand and clear career progression and better pay will ensure retention of a skilled workforce.
- Ring fenced funding for SEND provision would ensure budgets are not redirected elsewhere. Increased high needs block funding should be allocated on actual demand not historical spending patterns.
- Mandatory SEND training for all Teachers would ensure they are equipped to support a class with a range of diverse needs.
- The delivery of National Standards for SEND support in mainstream schools and a fairer, faster EHCP process. If the EHCP process was streamlined with faster assessments, it would ensure parents are not fighting for basic accommodations and hopefully reduce tribunal disputes.
- More specialist and Alternative Provisions to ensure complex needs children can access the necessary provisions. Providing more local specialist units linked to schools offers a hybrid model giving children the flexibility between specialist and mainstream provision.
What advice would you give to aspiring SEND professionals?
It's a rewarding job, despite the ongoing developments and current complexities in all areas of SEND. Working with both parents and schools collaboratively ensures the family’s needs are listened to and met. You can make a difference to some of the most vulnerable families and children we work with - go for it!
What were your experiences of working with Spencer Clarke Group?
The staff at Spencer Clarke Group are professional and supportive and their sector expertise have ensured I am placed in roles I can perform and grow in. They provide expert career guidance, access to exclusive roles matched to my needs and expertise and direct access to hiring managers. I had a real positive experience all round as they are always there in your career journey, guiding and advising you if needed.
SCG educational psychology report
As specialists in SEND recruitment, we work alongside hundreds of Educational Psychologists throughout the UK and are mindful of the challenges they face in their ever evolving role.
After commissioning our own research from Educational Psychologists in both local authorities and private practice, we published the SCG Educational Psychology Workforce Insights Report 2024.
The report delves into trends within educational psychology, funding and resources, industry challenges, policies and legislation and the future of educational psychology.
Read the SCG Educational Psychology Workforce Insights Report 2024 here.
SEND jobs
If you’re searching for your next SEND job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Local authority recruitment services
As specialist local authority SEND recruiters, we support local authorities nationwide with their temporary, interim and permanent staffing needs.
We can supply SEND staff for service redesign, tackling annual review backlogs and SEND/EHC Case workers to amend plans or hold annual review meetings.
If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
- South of the UK - Richard Shorrock
- Midlands & North of the UK - Adam Zyda
Share your experience
Every individual brings a unique set of experiences, thoughts and insights to the table. We believe in giving a voice to a community of professionals to inspire positive change and champion reform in the SEND sector.
If you work in the SEND sector and would like to share your own personal and professional experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you have a different perspective, could offer a fresh angle, or want to challenge assumptions.
Simply reach out to our Head of Content, Nicole Sherwood, to discuss a collaboration which makes your voice count.
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
