THE LONG-AWAITED government write-off of a council’s huge special educational needs deficit has moved a step closer after ministers approved the authority’s SEND reform plan.
The Department for Education has signed off Worcestershire County Council’s three-year plan to improve support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The approval makes Worcestershire eligible for an indicative £162.7 million government grant to cover around 90 percent of its historic Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit, which has built up because of rising SEND costs.
The council said Worcestershire’s eligible DSG deficit stood at about £180.8m on March 31 this year, leaving a remaining balance of around £18.1m not covered by the grant.
County councillors have repeatedly expressed frustration at the time taken to reach this point, warning that delays were leaving taxpayers exposed to rising interest costs while the authority waited for clarity over whether ministers would step in to cover the deficit.
Dan Boatright-Greene, cabinet member for education, SEND and skills, welcomed the decision but said the authority would continue pressing ministers to cover the full cost.
“The financial support that comes alongside the approval is welcome, particularly in addressing the historic deficit,” he said.
“However, sustainable and fair funding for SEND remains essential and we will continue to make that case to Government.”
The councillor added that the council expected to have spent £5.4m in interest costs on the deficit by the end of November and warned Worcestershire could still face costs of about £40.6m after March 2028.
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Worcestershire is one of many authorities across England facing major financial pressures linked to rising demand for SEND support.
The newly-approved reform plan sets out how the council, schools, health services and other partners will work together over the next three years to improve SEND services.
It focuses on increasing inclusion in mainstream education, improving access to specialist support closer to home, strengthening partnership working and ensuring resources are used more effectively.
Councillor Boatright-Greene said approval of the plan was “only a step in the right direction” and acknowledged families still wanted the SEND system to be easier to navigate, more consistent and better able to provide support at an earlier stage.
