East Riding Council’s cabinet member for children, families and education has criticised the way funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is allocated to local councils.
In a statement Councillor Victoria Aitken said:
“In East Riding we receive the lowest amount of funding per child, at £952 per pupil with SEND. The average amount per pupil nationally is £1,371, and if we received this it would mean the council would have a staggering £17.4million more each year for SEND provision.
“This would eliminate the high needs deficit and allow for further investment to reduce spending pressures across SEND and the wider school system budgets. The effect of lower funding in children’s services contributes significantly to the wider council budget, and if we received appropriate funding for high needs, our overall council position would be significantly more manageable.
“Whilst we know there is some outstanding work from schools and professionals, there is a real strain on the system, and we need this to change.”
East Riding Council are not alone in their struggles, a recent report from Child of the North described SEND provision in the UK as a “postcode lottery” and found that a staggering 99% of school leaders report that the funding they receive for pupils with SEND is insufficient.
The report also found that poor SEND provision across the country has profound affects on children’s academic success. For example, the report found that that just 30% of young people with SEND achieved a Grade 4 or higher in English and Maths in 2022/23, compared to 72% without SEND.
Scarborough Mayoral Development Zone to Launch Next Month
Beach Water Quality Plans To Be Drawn Up Following Partnership Meeting
Thousands Of Coast Schoolchildren Discover Offshore Wind Careers As New Maritime Cluster Launches
Patient Care Gets £400 Boost From Scarborough Seniors Golf Day
Town Centre Defibrillator and Bleed Kit Approved in Scarborough as Part of National Programme
Whitby Town Council Physically Ran Out of Money and Borrowed Charity Cash, Report Finds
Five Councillors Quit Whitby Town Council as Probe Finds Sustained Pattern of Inappropriate Conduct
Calls Grow For Stricter Planning Controls On Scarborough Shared Housing
Scarborough Patients Facing Longer Emergency Department Waits Than York
Mayor Pushes For Coordinated British Bus Buying
Whitby Grandfather Quits Smoking After 65 Years and Saves Enough for an Electric Car
Half-Term Flights Face Disruption Threat Despite Halt To Air Traffic Control Strikes
Comments
Add a comment