The government should fully fund support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), a leading councillor has said, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Durham County Council has sent its SEND Local Area Reform Plan (LARP) to the Department for Education as part of a national programme requiring councils to outline how they will improve services for children and young people with SEND.
If approved, the plan would unlock more than £32 million in government funding towards the council’s high needs budget deficit, which has built up as the cost of meeting statutory duties has exceeded the funding provided.
But Councillor Cathy Hunt, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said it was “disappointing” that taxpayers would have to contribute towards costs she said should be met by the government.
Durham County Council has also earmarked £11 million from its own reserves to cover the minimum contribution councils are expected to make towards writing off the deficit by March 31, 2028.
Cllr Hunt told a cabinet meeting: “I am passionate about delivering high-quality services for children with SEND.
“The plan marks a significant system reset for children and young people with SEND and their families, with a stronger focus on early help, inclusive mainstream provision and shared accountability across education, health and care partners.
“It is positive that the plan has been shaped by robust self-assessment and extensive co-production including feedback from children, young people, parents, carers and partners.
“Budget deficits in this area are common across the country and are due to the fact that the funding provided by the Government falls short of the unavoidable costs of meeting statutory requirements placed on councils.
“It is disappointing we are still having to set aside £11 million of taxpayers’ money towards the deficit we have unavoidably built up. The Government should be covering the whole cost.”
High needs deficits have become a widespread issue for local authorities across England, with councils warning that demand for SEND support has continued to rise while government funding has failed to keep pace.
The reform plans were requested by the Department for Education as part of wider national changes to SEND provision, with councils expected to set out how they will improve outcomes through earlier intervention, greater inclusion in mainstream schools and closer working between education, health and care services.
The government will now consider the council’s submission before deciding whether to approve the plan and release the funding.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
