Councils are set to receive a share of £280 million to create new school places or carry out building improvements for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or requiring alternative provision, the Department for Education announced today.
The funding will be divided between local authorities based on the projected number of pupils with high needs in their area.
Every local authority is set to receive a minimum of £500,000.
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The DfE has said the money will be used to create new places in schools, colleges and early years settings.
New funding for SEND school improvements
It also said the funding will improve existing provision to “create modern, fit-for-purpose spaces suited to a wider range of pupil needs”.
This could be by contributing to the cost of creating a new special school, or by improving accessibility, such as installing ramps, handrails or ceiling hoists, the department said.
The DfE said the funds, for places needed by September next year, could also be used to add a special unit or resourced provision to a school rated as “good” or “outstanding”, or for “repurposing areas” so that they meet the needs of pupils with SEND.
Minister for the school system Baroness Berridge said: “It is so important that all children and young people, whatever their background, are able to attend a good school that helps them thrive and gives them the building blocks they need to go on to fulfil their potential.
“For pupils with more complex needs or disabilities, it is especially important that the right facilities and support are in place at whatever school they attend, so they can learn in a modern, adaptable environment.
“This funding will help councils provide targeted support to level up outcomes for some of their most vulnerable pupils.”
The department has described the funds as a “significant single-year increase in high-needs capital investment.”
It follows £365 million allocated through the Special Provision Capital Fund to create places and improve facilities for pupils with SEND from 2018 to 2021.
Children and families minister Vicky Ford said: “Every child or young person with SEND should go to school feeling confident that they will get the tailored support they need at school, and every teacher should be equipped with the right facilities to teach those pupils.
“We have already increased the high-needs budget by nearly a quarter over the past two years.
“This additional investment will enable local authorities to invest more in creating excellent school places or enhancing existing provision so that pupils with additional needs and disabilities get the same opportunities as any other.”
Professor Adam Boddison, chief executive of Nasen (the National Association for Special Educational Needs), said: “Given the growing demand for high-quality specialist provision, this increase in high-needs funding is a welcome investment. I hope that local authorities will work in partnership with schools, specialist settings and families so that this funding is targeted to secure long-term benefits for learners with SEND.”
Funding pressure on councils providing for pupils with SEND are well documented.
Last year it was revealed that almost 90 per cent of councils in England overspent on their budgets for teaching children with SEND, with the total funding gap amounting to £643 million.
According to figures reported in The Observer and collated by the website Special Needs Jungle, 132 upper-tier councils in England (of 151) overspent their high-needs block grant that is used for SEND education in 2019-20. Only nine councils did not record an overspend, and no data was available for the other 10.
