Headteachers in Hertfordshire are pushing back against a proposal to redirect £5.4m from the general school budget to cover special needs costs
However, there are concerns that this funding might fall short. The plan includes a potential £50 million deficit, which would be covered by borrowing from the county council. To help manage this, officials suggested taking £5.4 million from the general school budget.
At a recent meeting, headteachers agreed to the deficit but were not on board with the idea of slicing off that £5.4 million. Now, council officials are set to meet with the chair of the Schools Forum to find a solution. If they can’t come to an agreement, there might be cuts to the planned increase for high needs funding.
Alternatively, the council could seek approval from the Department for Education to go ahead with the top-slicing, which would override the Schools Forum’s decision. A spokesperson for the county council explained that the budget aims to support children with high needs, but the Schools Forum didn’t agree with the specific funding cut.
The high needs budget is crucial for supporting children with Education, Health and Care Plans in both mainstream and special schools. It also covers early intervention and hospital education. Hertfordshire has been advocating for more government funding, as its allocation is among the lowest in the country.
With the number of pupils needing support on the rise, managing costs is becoming increasingly tough. The draft budget suggests that the £50 million deficit could lead to an accumulated debt of around £80 million by 2025/26, with interest costs adding up.
This situation has been described as an “existential threat” to local government, highlighting the urgent need for reform and sustainable funding for special educational needs.
