West Sussex secures £182.7 million government funding boost for special educational needs

West Sussex County Council has secured £182.7 million in government funding to help tackle the growing financial pressures of supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The funding follows approval of the county's SEND Reform Plan by the Department for Education, which was developed jointly by West Sussex County Council and NHS Surrey and Sussex.

The money, awarded through the government's High Needs Stability Grant, will cover 90 per cent of the council's existing SEND funding deficit.

The deficit has built up because the cost of providing specialist education and support has exceeded the funding the council receives from central government.

However, despite the substantial financial boost, the council has warned that rising demand for SEND services continues to put significant pressure on its finances, with uncertainty remaining over how the outstanding deficit will be covered.

The funding is intended to provide greater financial stability while supporting improvements to services for children and young people across West Sussex.

The council's Dedicated Schools Grant pays for support for pupils with complex special educational needs, alternative education provision, specialist schools and mainstream school budgets. It also funds free childcare and early education.

Councillor Sam Raby, West Sussex County Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, welcomed the government's decision but warned that significant challenges remain.

“Supporting children and young people with SEND continues to be one of our highest priorities. The government’s decision to approve our SEND Reform Plan and allocate us the full amount that we were able to request is an important step forward for West Sussex.

“It reflects the progress we've made by working together, promoting inclusion, and improving our process to so that we can deliver better outcomes for children and young people now and into the future.

“We have already increased in the percentage of Education, Health and Care Plans which we are delivering within the statutory 20-week timescale, and we continue to expand specialist provision across the county to meet growing demand.

“My thanks go to our dedicated staff who helped create such a comprehensive SEND Reform Plan, which was key to us securing this vital government funding and providing a level of short-term financial stability for the county council’s children’s services.

“But the fact remains that the money we receive from national government is not enough to cover the cost of delivering support for those with SEND in West Sussex. The increasing debt forecast for delivering those services both here in West Sussex, and elsewhere across the country, is simply not sustainable.

“I shall continue to lobby the Department for Education to highlight the challenges faced here in West Sussex, and push for the funding we need to ensure all of our children and young people can continue to thrive.”

The council says it has already made progress in improving the proportion of Education, Health and Care Plans completed within the statutory 20-week timescale, while continuing to expand specialist provision across the county.

The SEND Reform Plan sets out how national changes to the special educational needs system will be implemented locally, with a focus on improving inclusion, strengthening services and meeting growing demand.

Although the £182.7 million grant will address much of the existing shortfall, the council says the longer-term challenge of funding SEND services remains unresolved.

Council leaders are continuing to press the Department for Education for a sustainable funding settlement to ensure children and young people across West Sussex can access the support they need.

The full West Sussex SEND Reform Plan is available on the county council's Local Offer website.

V2 RADIO BREAKING NEWS ACROSS THE SOUTH 
Don't miss the stories that matter to you! Get BREAKING NEWS ALERTS sent STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE. Download the FREE V2 RADIO APP today! Seen something? Know something? Got a story we should be covering? BE OUR EYES AND EARS. Email news tips, images and video to news@v2radio.co.uk 

HALF PRICE. BIG SAVINGS. DON'T MISS OUT!
STOP PAYING FULL PRICE! Get 50% OFF restaurants, days out, attractions and unforgettable experiences across the SOUTH. GRAB YOUR DEALS NOW at WWW.V2VOUCHERS.CO.UK