Moon Hall School Reigate has collated national data and research from across Government, watchdog bodies, and educational charities highlighting the ineffectiveness and rising cost of PiP/resource-base models being expanded within mainstream schools.
The collation draws together findings from the National Audit Office (NAO), Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), Ofsted, HMCTS Tribunal data, and the Special Educational Consortium, to provide a clear national picture of what is and isn ’t working for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Key evidence highlights
- Financial unsustainability:
- The NAO reports that despite a 58 % rise in High-Needs funding (to £10.7 billion in 2024-25), the system remains “financially unsustainable ” and is “ not delivering better outcomes.
Poor outcomes in mainstream add-on models
- The EEF and Nuffield/DISS studies show that pupils relying on teaching assistants or pull-out sessions for most of their support make less academic progress, as these models reduce access to qualified teachers and fragment learning.
Tribunal exposure
- In 2023/24, 99 % of SEND appeals were decided in favour of parents, with an estimated £100 million in public funds spent on failed cases.
Value for money
- Independent analysis indicates that the true annual cost of maintaining pupils in mainstream PiP/resource-bases (when TA staffing, therapies, and leadership on-costs are included) often exceeds £50,000 per pupil—higher than the cost of a high-quality specialist day placement, which typically ranges between £25,000 and £40,000.
Specialist settings deliver stronger outcomes
- Integrated specialist schools, where teaching, therapy, and assessment are embedded within the timetable, demonstrate higher academic progress, improved wellbeing, and better transition to post-16 education, particularly for pupils with dyslexia and languagebased learning differences.
Statement from Michelle Catterson, Executive Headteacher of Moon Hall School Reigate and Chair of the British Dyslexia Association:
“We have collated the strongest national evidence available to support what schools, parents and practitioners already know: expanding PiP or resource-base units inside mainstream schools will not deliver the outcomes that children with complex literacy or language needs deserve. The research shows these models are fragmented, inefficient and ultimately more expensive. Specialist schools provide integrated teaching, therapy and pastoral care within one coherent setting— achieving better outcomes and representing far better value for public money. ”
Next steps
Moon Hall is sharing this collation with Members of Parliament, representatives in the House of Lords, and sector leaders to inform ongoing SEND policy discussions and commissioning frameworks. Organisations and media outlets are encouraged to reference or draw on this evidence base when reporting on SEND reform or Government spending priorities.