{"id":195966,"date":"2023-12-15T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=195966"},"modified":"2023-12-15T15:23:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T15:23:30","slug":"how-investors-are-making-millions-from-the-bankrupt-send-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/how-investors-are-making-millions-from-the-bankrupt-send-system\/","title":{"rendered":"How investors are making millions from the \u2018bankrupt\u2019 SEND system"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Companies backed by private equity investors and a Middle East sovereign wealth fund running private SEND schools have made millions in profits amid a state capacity crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The firms \u2013 many of which also run children\u2019s homes \u2013 said they provide high quality education filling a \u201csignificant shortfall\u201d in provision, meaning pupils with special needs are not left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, average independent special school costs are double that of the state sector, analysis suggests, with some councils unable to afford recent increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One analysis estimates some companies are making tens of millions of pounds in profit, with one director paid \u00a31.1 million last year. Some are registered in tax havens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Warren-Carratt-inset-400px.jpg\" alt=\"Warren Carratt\" class=\"wp-image-195775\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Warren-Carratt-inset-400px.jpg 400w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Warren-Carratt-inset-400px-244x244.jpg 244w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Warren-Carratt-inset-400px-147x147.jpg 147w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Warren-Carratt-inset-400px-54x54.jpg 54w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Warren-Carratt-inset-400px-347x347.jpg 347w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Warren Carratt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While government is telling some cash-strapped councils to rein in their spend on private schools, the state\u2019s sluggish response to demand means they are locked into a \u201ccircle of financial doom\u201d, said national SEND leader Warren Carratt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe government\u2019s failure to effectively plan for \u2013 and adequately invest in \u2013 the increased demand has left some providers in the independent sector making eye-watering profits at the expense of already hugely overspent high needs budgets,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMeanwhile, government guidance is in turn allowing and enabling state special schools to have their budgets reduced \u2013 leaving an ever-increasing role for the independent sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is a damning indictment of the free market principles that \u2013 as with independent children\u2019s homes \u2013 are holding our public sector budgets to ransom and moving our councils and state special schools toward bankruptcy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Private school spend soars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The combined deficit for councils with high needs funding blackholes was \u00a31.59 billion as of March 2023, according to analysis from the Special Needs Jungle website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet councils spent \u00a31.3 billion on independent and non-maintained special schools (NMSS) in 2021-22, more than double the \u00a3576 million spent in 2015-16, government data shows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-wp-embed is-provider-schools-week wp-block-embed-schools-week\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"i36SpoCWTMKnYfyraDAcNGdl2JVgvEeQquw57mk18FOUbsP0B\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"EjOmzuuhrT\"><a href=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/no-place-to-go-special-schools-capacity-crisis-revealed\/\">No place to go: Special schools\u2019 capacity crisis revealed<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;No place to go: Special schools\u2019 capacity crisis revealed&#8221; &#8212; Schools Week\" src=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/no-place-to-go-special-schools-capacity-crisis-revealed\/embed\/#?secret=i1DFlTmoT1#?secret=EjOmzuuhrT\" data-secret=\"EjOmzuuhrT\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The number of pupils at these schools has risen by 52 per cent over that time, as an explosion in pupils with additional needs outstripped capacity in the state sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the average cost of an independent and NMSS place in 2021-22 was \u00a356,710 \u2013 more than double the \u00a323,224 average cost of a place at a state special school, <em>Schools Week <\/em>analysis found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In its 2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/consultations\/send-review-right-support-right-place-right-time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">SEND green paper<\/a>, the Department for Education said this was because such schools often cater for pupils \u201cwith very complex needs\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But they also said capacity pressures in the SEND sector mean more children are being placed in private special schools \u201ceven when this may not be the most effective setting for them, resulting in poor value for money\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Government has recently told some councils to rein in such spend as part of its \u201csafety valve\u201d scheme. Thirty-four councils with the largest high needs deficit blackholes have been given government bailouts totalling nearly \u00a31 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spending on private SEND schools among the 23 safety valve councils that responded to our freedom of information request rose by 43 per cent from \u00a3210 million in 2018-19, to \u00a3301 million in 2021-22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surrey\u2019s costs rose from \u00a348 million to \u00a374 million in that period. In 2022-23, they topped \u00a386 million. Kent\u2019s has risen from \u00a334 million to \u00a367 million this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sluggish state creates gap in market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In January, Bury council said its specialist provisions \u201care full\u201d meaning \u201cwe have been forced to place significant numbers\u201d in the independent sector, where its spend rose from \u00a35.3 million in 2018-19, to \u00a310.6 million in 2022-23.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nationally, the number of youngsters with education, health and care plans \u2013 a legal document that sets out extra support a pupil must receive \u2013 has risen by 46 per cent since 2018-19, from about 354,000 to 517,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, delivery of new state special schools has not kept up.<em> Schools Week<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/promised-special-free-schools-fail-to-open\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">revealed last year how just one of 37 new free schools announced in 2020 had opened in its permanent home.<\/a> Six first approved in 2017 were still yet to open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were 712 independent and NMSS schools in 2022-23, up from 547 in 2018-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SEND consultant Barney Angliss said companies have been given \u201can opportunity to step in where the system is failing\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Firms &#8216;agile and responsive&#8217;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Firms can set up new provision within 12 to 15 months and are \u201cvery agile and responsive\u201d to demand, said Claire Dorer, chief executive of the sector body the National Association of Special Schools (NASS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Outcomes First Group, one of the largest private SEND school providers, is working with councils that had bids for new special free schools rejected. Last year, government approved fewer than half of the 85 applications by local authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A spokesperson for the firm said its work \u201chelps LAs meet the significant shortfall in provision for the children that we educate, who without our specialist provision, would be left with no option but to remain out of education \u2026 Without this provision, LAs would not be able to educate these children, which they are legally mandated to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Government is investing \u00a32.6 billion between 2022 and 2025 to increase special school and alternative provision capacity. But SEND specialist Matt Keer said it\u2019s still \u201cnot happening fast enough\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Councils \u2018unprepared\u2019 to pay fee rises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Schools forum documents for Bury council state the average independent special school fee increased by approximately 10 per cent in the last year \u201cas these schools look to pass on cost increases\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>September schools forum documents for Merton, Southwest London, reveal that their non-maintained special schools are \u201casking for very high fee uplifts, many of which we are unprepared to pay\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sheffield, which is not in a safety valve agreement, said this year that the average independent place now costs \u00a370,000, with the highest \u00a3111,000. This was a \u201csignificant pressure\u201d on high needs allocations and a seven per cent increase in a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Claire-Dorer-inset-400px.jpg\" alt=\"Claire Dorer\" class=\"wp-image-195774\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Claire-Dorer-inset-400px.jpg 400w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Claire-Dorer-inset-400px-244x244.jpg 244w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Claire-Dorer-inset-400px-147x147.jpg 147w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Claire-Dorer-inset-400px-54x54.jpg 54w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Claire-Dorer-inset-400px-347x347.jpg 347w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Claire Dorer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Our analysis found the average cost of a private school placement rose by eight per cent between 2018-19 and 2021-22. However, the average state school cost rose by 15 per cent \u2013 although they remain significantly lower overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Dorer said independent special schools \u201care still the placement of last resort \u2026 too much of the time\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen you place a young person at 13 or 14 who has just seen needs go unaddressed for year after year, it is going to be more difficult and more expensive to affect a change with them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, at Outcomes First Group, they have class sizes of between three to 10 pupils, with one teacher to every two children. The ratio is about one teacher for every six pupils in state special schools and pupil referral units, according to government workforce data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Carratt, chief executive officer of Nexus MAT, added most state schools have been \u201chand to mouth for the best part of the last decade\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, 89 per cent of state special schools are currently \u2018good\u2019 or \u2018outstanding\u2019 \u2013 above the 81 per cent of special independent schools that are inspected by Ofsted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Firms make millions from \u2018fragmented\u2019 sector<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To get an idea of the main providers of independent SEND provision, we asked the \u201csafety valve\u201d councils for their individual placement costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of the ten providers that received the most money from the 22 councils that responded to our FOI, five were owned by offshore companies. Three are owned by private equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another is owned by an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund. A further three were charities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is difficult to establish how much profit firms are making from the SEND sector alone, as many also provide children\u2019s social care placements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, a report commissioned by the Local Government Association on children\u2019s social care this year estimated four of the companies in our analysis made \u00a3184 million in profit in the last reporting period alone (see box out).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The profits relate to wider children\u2019s services income, but would include SEND provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dorer said while companies are making profit, they \u201call have to bear a loss while they are setting up new provision, and they are bearing a considerable risk\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, John Pearce, Association of Directors of Children&#8217;s Services\u2019 president, said there are similar \u201cconcerns\u201d to the \u201cprofiteering, costs spiralling and lack of control the local authorities have over the whole system\u201d as seen in the children\u2019s home sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who are the firms making millions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outcomes First<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Outcomes First Group recorded \u00a3445 million children\u2019s services income across its last two sets of accounts, according to LGA\u2019s analysis, put together by Revolution Consulting in September.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company&#8217;s EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) figure was \u00a393 million, the analysis claimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Andrew Rome, the report author, said EBITDA is one of the most widely used measures of profitability. His analysis found Outcomes had a profit margin of 20.9 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to our FOI figures, Outcomes First Group and its brand Acorn Education received a combined estimate of \u00a381 million within the last six years from the 22 safety valve councils that responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The group, which has 56 schools in England and also runs children\u2019s homes, was acquired by private equity firm Stirling Square Capital Partners in 2019. Its ultimate controlling party is in Jersey.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A spokesperson said they have \u201cnever paid a dividend to any shareholder, reinvests all profits into opening new schools and all taxes due are paid in the UK\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Witherslack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Witherslack, which runs 24 schools as well as therapeutic learning centres and children\u2019s homes, recorded the largest profit margin of 26.5 per cent, according to the LGA report. It had an income of \u00a3148 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mubadala Capital, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi\u2019s second-largest sovereign wealth fund, owns the company. It was acquired from private equity firm Charme Capital Partners in 2021. Witherslack received an estimated \u00a330 million from the councils within the last six years, our FOI found.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company did not respond to requests for comment. But a 2021-22 annual report from the Witherslack Group said all profits are reinvested as capital expenditure. The company told The Times last year that \u201cits structure was not designed to avoid paying tax\u201d.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aspris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Aspris was set up by Waterland, a Dutch private equity firm, when it bought The Priory Group in 2021 for \u00a31.1 billion. It runs 34 specialist schools and colleges in the UK as well as children&#8217;s homes.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most recent accounts for Aspris Holdco Limited show that the highest paid director received \u00a31.1 million, including a one-off award of \u00a3305,000 \u201crelating to the exceptionally high level of corporate transactions and reorganisation activity successfully completed during the period\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the FOI figures, it has received an estimated \u00a333.7 million from cash-strapped councils. The LGA report suggests the firm has an EBITDA of \u00a347 million, a 25.1 per cent margin. The firm declined to comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Cambian Group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Cambian Group, owned by CareTech, runs 34 schools in England and Wales. Last year, The Times reported CareTech sent more than \u00a32 million to its founders\u2019 offshore company in the Caribbean while accepting government Covid support.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lawyers for two brothers who founded the company told the newspaper they \u201cpay all their UK tax due\u201d and make \u201csignificant social and economic contributions to charitable causes\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year\u2019s LGA report found CareTech\u2019s EBITDA to be \u00a383.8 million, a margin of 27.3 per cent. But this year\u2019s analysis doesn\u2019t include the firm, partly because it delisted from the stock market. The company\u2019s ultimate controlling party is incorporated in Jersey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most recent accounts for CareTech Holdings Limited show an operating profit of \u00a325.5 million and a net profit of \u00a36.5 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using just the net profit, it means the profit margin was 1.3 per cent, a spokesperson said. They added that CareTech \u201cprovides a much-needed education for children\u201d with SEND.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Anne Longfield, former children\u2019s commissioner, said these \u201ceye-watering levels of profit\u201d are \u201cindefensible, in my view. It\u2019s taking money out of our statutory services at an alarming rate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"497\" src=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Healthy-finances-table-investigation-800px.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-195960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Healthy-finances-table-investigation-800px.jpg 800w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Healthy-finances-table-investigation-800px-670x416.jpg 670w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Healthy-finances-table-investigation-800px-768x477.jpg 768w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Healthy-finances-table-investigation-800px-640x398.jpg 640w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Healthy-finances-table-investigation-800px-244x152.jpg 244w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Healthy-finances-table-investigation-800px-347x216.jpg 347w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Healthy-finances-table-investigation-800px-489x304.jpg 489w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Councils &#8216;hamstrung in their efforts&#8217;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Competition and Markets Authority said in 2021 that the UK had \u201csleepwalked\u201d into a \u201cdysfunctional children\u2019s social care market\u201d with councils \u201chamstrung in their efforts to find suitable and affordable placements\u201d in children\u2019s homes or foster care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It said the largest private providers were \u201cmaking materially higher profits, and charging materially higher prices, than we would expect if this market were functioning effectively\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Independent SEND school provider Aspris \u2013 set up by Dutch private equity firm Waterland \u2013 stated on its website that \u201csurging demand\u201d is \u201cundersupplied by the existing and fragmented capacity, which in many cases is also dated, under-invested and not fit for purpose\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most recent accounts for Witherslack Group added it is continuing to \u201cexpand successfully\u201d with new school and children\u2019s home openings \u201cwell received\u201d by councils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is \u201cparticularly strengthened\u201d by its expansion into new areas, \u201cmuch of which has taken place in response to requests by local authorities\u201d, although it&#8217;s not clear if this is just for schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A \u00a37.1 million rise in profit after tax was \u201creflecting the increased capacity of the company\u201d, its latest annual accounts state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Outcomes First Group has opened 18 new schools or extended others with 1,800 new desks in the last year alone. It plans to deliver the same expansion again over the next two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So what next?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>But Meg Hillier, chair of the public accounts committee, said pressures on local authority spending for independent places \u201cremain prohibitive\u201d and leave councils facing \u201cimpossible choices and, too often, leaving children without the full support they need\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Meg-Hillier-inset-400px.jpg\" alt=\"Meg Hillier\" class=\"wp-image-195773\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Meg-Hillier-inset-400px.jpg 400w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Meg-Hillier-inset-400px-244x244.jpg 244w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Meg-Hillier-inset-400px-147x147.jpg 147w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Meg-Hillier-inset-400px-54x54.jpg 54w, https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Meg-Hillier-inset-400px-347x347.jpg 347w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meg Hillier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ministers\u2019 SEND and alternative provision implementation plan, published in March, pledges to \u201cre-examine the state\u2019s relationship with independent special schools to ensure we set comparable expectations for all state-funded specialist providers\u201d.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A \u201cfragmented\u201d management based on councils\u2019 individual pupil placements \u201cis inefficient\u201d and \u201cmakes it difficult to assess the overall impact of independent special schools\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Department for Education is now considering how these schools should be aligned with new national SEND standards to \u201cdefine the provision they offer and bring consistency and transparency to their costs\u201d.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Carratt added the \u201cbiggest risk\u201d for state schools is that councils \u201ccan\u2019t control what independent schools charge\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said this risks councils directing more state schools to take children they cannot accommodate \u2013 to avoid the costs of an independent place \u2013 and state schools get reduced funding because of \u201cindependent placements negatively impacting\u201d the high needs funding \u201cbottom line\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Councils &#8216;need powers&#8217;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The green paper did propose independent schools would be included in the new national tariffs \u2013 rules on prices that commissioners would use to pay providers. But it is not known if this will go ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An LGA spokesperson added councils \u201cneed to be given powers to lead local SEND systems effectively and hold schools to account for levels of inclusion\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the meantime, several councils have been told to reduce their spend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In return for \u00a3142 million to eliminate its deficit in 2027-28, Kent must \u201cimplement models of reintegration of children from special\/independent schools to mainstream where needs have been met\u201d. Norfolk has been told to agree an \u201cinclusion charter\u201d with schools in return for \u00a370 million by 2028-29.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It should help mainstream schools to support \u201ca greater complexity of need\u201d so they are \u201cstepping back from the over reliance\u201d on the costly independent sector.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Firms step in as SEMH needs soar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the biggest children\u2019s social care providers are stepping in to meet soaring demand for specialist social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) schools amid a mental health crisis and increased behaviour challenges, <em>writes Jessica Hill<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SEMH is a relatively new subset of SEND, which replaced the term emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) in the 2014 reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are 1,015 SEMH schools in England, including 339 academies, 396 maintained schools and 229 independent SEMH schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Public data on these schools doesn\u2019t include open dates. But analysis found around 50 of the 63 independent education settings, which includes alternative provision, proposed to open and pre-inspected by Ofsted since 2021 cater for children with SEMH needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, the state sector has been opening fewer SEMH schools every year, dropping from 17 opened in 2016 to six so far this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The top five biggest children\u2019s social care providers now operate 104 SEMH-associated schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All five &#8211; Outcomes First, Polaris, Aspris, CareTech and Witherslack &#8211; have a majority or minority private equity or sovereign wealth fund owner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Independent special schools run by private equity firms are now propping up the sector amid a capacity crisis. 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