Private firms paid 'millions' in SEND cash as cost of child assessments rockets

England’s SEND crisis is spiralling because millions in taxpayers’ money is being “sucked” out of the system by private agencies charging rocketing prices for “superficial” assessments of children’s needs, The i Paper has been told

Professionals working in the SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) sector say that reports needed for sought-after education, health and care plans (ECHPs) have doubled in price in the last year to as much as £1400 in London, pushing local councils towards bankruptcy.

They are concerned about the impact of what they say are expensive “hit and run” assessments, a problem also reported in the midlands and north of England. With nearly 100,000 new care plans begun in England last year the experts say the cost of the private assessments being pro