£740 million for specialist SEND places in mainstream schools

The Government has announced £740 million to create more specialist places in mainstream schools to become more accessible to pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Allocations will be confirmed in the Spring, alongside the publication of guidance outlining how councils can use this investment to improve local mainstream provision.  The funding announced forms part of a broader £6.7 billion capital settlement for education for the next financial year announced at the Autumn Budget.

Last month the National Audit Office highlighted the crisis in the SEND system, with very limited progress having been made in making mainstream schools more inclusive in recent years.

That’s why the government has also confirmed that it will not enter into any more of its Safety Valve agreements for councils in financial deficits, pending wider reform of the whole system to prioritise early intervention, properly supporting councils to bring their finances under control.

Devon is one of over 30 local authorities that have been supported to manage their high needs budgets through the Safety Valve programme. The programme provides support for councils with deficits with overspending on SEND. The Government will continue to work with local authorities with Safety Valve agreements to deliver their plans.