“Councils continue to face immense demand pressures in providing vital care and support for children and young people with SEND and are running increasing deficits on their high needs budgets which finance SEND services."
Responding to confirmation by the Prime Minister that state schools in England will receive a £2.2 billion funding increase next year, Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“This funding is good news and will help schools plan and budget for next year, which has become even more vital due to the extra challenges caused by coronavirus.
“Councils continue to face immense demand pressures in providing vital care and support for children and young people with SEND and are running increasing deficits on their high needs budgets which finance SEND services.
“Following extra SEND funding for last year, councils need urgent clarification that there will be additional funding for SEND this year at least to meet the unprecedented rise in children and young people needing support.
“As well as additional funding, we want to work with government on reforming the SEND system to help all schools become more inclusive, so that more children with high needs can be appropriately supported in mainstream schools.”