Suffolk County Council approves an additional £9.1 million investment in special educational needs and disability (SEND) services over the next three years as demand surges and costs spiral.
Suffolk County Council approved the spending in a meeting on Wednesday, 24 July.
Why it matters: The funding aims to address "widespread and/or systemic failing" identified in a recent Ofsted inspection but comes as the council grapples with significant overspending on SEND provision.
In numbers:
8,587 children and young people in Suffolk have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) as of May 2024
12,000 additional children receive SEN Support from their schools
Only 16% of EHCPs were issued within the statutory 20-week timeframe in April 2024
The council has a £26.5 million overspend on its Dedicated Schools Grant, with £27.7 million related to SEND provision
The big picture: Like many local authorities, Suffolk struggles to meet growing SEND demand with limited resources. The council faces a £55.7 million deficit on its High Needs Block for 2023-24.
The high-needs funding system supports provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from their early years to age 25, enabling local authorities and institutions to meet their statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014.
What Suffolk County Council says: "This significant investment demonstrates our commitment to improving SEND services in Suffolk," said Councillor Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND. "While we recognise the financial challenges, it's essential we provide the necessary resources to support children and young people with special educational needs."
What's next: If approved, the council aims to:
Hire 12 additional experienced Family Services Coordinators
Extend contracts for more Educational Psychology advice
Add five coordinators to support the annual review process
Create 15 new support and management roles
The bottom line: While the proposed investment shows a commitment to improving SEND services, it remains uncertain whether it will address the sector's growing demand and rising costs.
Get in touch: Are you a parent of a child receiving SEND education in Suffolk? We want to hear your views. Email Oliver Roaune-Williams, Editor of Ipswich.co.uk: editor@ipswich.co.uk.
