Extra SEND money wins cautious approval
0The education secretary Damian Hinds announced on 15 December that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will receive an additional £350m in funding.
Hinds said that an extra £250m would go to councils over the next two years, and that £100m has been allocated to create more specialist places in schools.
The announcement followed a report from the Local Government Association saying the councils are facing a SEND funding gap of almost £500m in 2018/19.
Anntoinette Bramble, chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board said of the new money: “While the funding will help, it will only partially address the wider £472m deficit councils are facing providing SEND support this year, which could grow to more than £800m in 2019/20.
The funding problems stem from the remorseless increase in the number of children with education, health and care (EHC) plans or statements, which set out the support the child should receive.
The number of pupils with plans has increased by 35% since 2013/14.
