2 weeks Ago
The debt racked up by Norfolk County Council in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities is due to hit more than £180m, raising new fears over its finances. The council has warned the deficit in its ring-fenced schools' budget will reach £183m by next year. The authority administers what is known as the Dedicated Schools Grant on behalf of the government to support youngsters with high needs - but the money the council spends outstrips what it gets from Whitehall.
The overspend comes as the number of children with education and health care plans - which outline the extra support they need to support conditions such as autism and learning difficulties - increases. Norfolk County Council last year saw a 17pc increase in referrals to special schools, while leaders have accused some unscrupulous private care providers and independent special schools of "profiteering" from Norfolk's vulnerable children . Senior officers at the Conservative-controlled council are urging the government to reform education and funding for special needs and disability (SEND) education, which deputy leader Andrew Jamieson previously branded "broken" .
Andrew Jamieson, deputy leader of Norfolk County Council (Image: Norfolk County Council) In 2023, the council, which recently agreed £45m of cuts and savings , signed a "safety valve" agreement with the government, getting £70m for education services and support for SEND children. The bailout was to cover the deficit the council accrued amid a rising number of children needing specialist provision or extra support at school, and the increasing complexity of needs. But, just a few months after it was signed, the council told the Department for Education its scheme was "off track" and discussions about renegotiating it have been held.
READ MORE: Norfolk council's £870k legal bill for fighting parents Norfolk County Council's County Hall headquarters (Image: Mike Page) The Labour government has said it wants to overhaul the system, but it remains unclear what will happen to deficits councils like Norfolk have accrued. Jane Hayman, director for SEND and inclusion at Norfolk County Council, said: "We continue to await wider reforms of the system, which we hope will focus on giving children support much earlier, with a greater emphasis on schools, academies and local authorities working together in the interests of all of the children in their area. "We also need the government to address the significant overspend on SEND budgets being seen by the vast majority of councils.
" The government announced last week it would be investing £750m to create 10,000 more places for SEND pupils. The county council's deficit for the dedicated schools grant is set to exceed £180m (Image: PA) Mrs Hayman said: "We are looking at the detail of the funding for Norfolk to see how it can be used to support our children with SEND to flourish." County Hall is creating a dozen specialist resource bases so children can get SEND support in mainstream schools, although the need to test grass has held up plans at Acle Academy .
The council is also awaiting funding and final approval for new special schools in Great Yarmouth and Downham Market ..
