"The government has said it will spend 5bn to pay off 90% of the debts English councils have built up through supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to the end of the financial year. The LGA, which represents councils in England, welcomed the plans, saying it "removes the immediate threat of insolvency for many councils". The government is expected to lay out their full plans for SEND reform in the Schools White Paper in the coming weeks."
"Councils have a legal duty to identify and support children with special educational needs. But rising demand in recent years has meant they have been spending billions more than they receive from the government. These SEND deficits are currently being artificially held off council books by a statutory override, which is due to expire in 2028. The government then plans to take responsibility for SEND funding."
The government will spend £5bn to pay off 90% of debts English councils accumulated supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) up to the end of the financial year. Councils have a legal duty to identify and support children with special educational needs and rising demand has driven spending billions above government funding. SEND deficits are currently excluded from council accounts by a statutory override that is due to expire in 2028. The Office for Budget Responsibility projected combined historic deficits could reach £14bn by then. The grant applies to the high-needs block of the dedicated schools grant. The Local Government Association said the measure removes the immediate threat of insolvency for many councils. The LGA chair said the costs accrued due to a broken system and that fully writing off historic and future deficits remains critical.
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]