Concerns are mounting for families across the East Riding of Yorkshire as local leaders warn of a deepening financial crisis in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision
Current figures show the region is already the worst-funded authority in the country for these vital services, leaving many vulnerable children at risk of falling behind.
Councillor Phillip Redshaw has highlighted the stark disparity between the levels of support provided in different parts of the country, pointing out that the funding gap is set to widen further under new settlements. According to Councillor Redshaw:
"The East Riding is already the worst funded of 150 local authorities in this country for SEND at £1,087 per pupil compared to the national average of £1,606.
Our new send dedicated schools grant settlement is set at 2% well below the 6.4% national average and so the settlement will simply widen the gap even further.
As the 16th worst funded authority overall for DSG per pupil, we currently face a £54 million deficit this year rising to £92 million by 2028 and £130 million by 2031."
This financial pressure is not merely a matter of balance sheets; it has a direct human cost for those living in rural and coastal communities. Councillor Denis Healy expressed deep concern for families already under strain, noting that demand for services is rising while funding appears to be moving in the opposite direction. In a statement regarding the pressure on local families, Councillor Healy said:
"Families in the East Riding know what it means to struggle for support. They already see services under pressure. When we receive some of the lowest SEND funding in England and are then told to accept a cut, the message to those families is very stark. It is make do. It's not sustainable. It's not fair.
The same is true across adult social care, children's services, and local transport. Demand is rising. Costs are rising. And yet funding is being pushed in the opposite direction.
So, let's say it plainly. Councils like ours are being asked to carry the consequences of national decisions without being given the tools to succeed."
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council has formally objected to the Government’s 'Fair Funding' proposals, which they claim will result in a £67 million loss over the next three years. Councillors argue that the current funding formula is heavily weighted towards urban councils, failing to recognise the isolation, rurality, and the specific costs of coastal service delivery.
The council’s resolution, moved by Councillor Redshaw and supported by his colleagues, calls for a "transparent, evidence-based and genuinely needs-led funding system". Key points of their challenge include:
- A demand for the Government to recognise that taking from councils which already receive the least is "unacceptable".
- A call for a formula that accounts for an ageing population and the geographical challenges of the region.
- The assertion that the East Riding is the third worst loser among unitary authorities under the proposed changes.
As the council continues to champion the need for fair resources, the message to the Chancellor remains clear: without a settlement that acknowledges the true costs of rural and coastal life, the most vulnerable residents will continue to bear the consequences of national decisions.
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