Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a joint report of the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services and the Interim Corporate Director of Resources which provided an update on spend and pressures on the High Needs Block (HNB) of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), which supports Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and inclusion support services for children and young people (for copy see file of minutes).

Councillor Gunn stated the Council had increased resources in recognition of the growing demand on the service and whilst she welcomed the additional government funding into the HNB, she pointed out that the long term position remains unclear and the delay in the government’s review into special educational needs, added to the uncertainty.  Having written to the Secretary of State for Education on a number of occasions to express her views with regard to SEND services; school funding and the special educational needs review, she hoped her concerns would be addressed.

Councillor Gunn paid tribute to education providers and staff who had worked tirelessly to support young people and families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed a strong wish to ensure the government grants due consideration to the likelihood that additional support will continue to be required in the future, which will further impact resources. 

Seconding the report, Councillor Napier, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance credited officers for the comprehensive report which outlined the vast amount of work ongoing in this area despite the financial challenges.  Whilst he too was pleased to see increased investment into the SEND service to address the rising demand and the increasingly complex caseload, he expressed concern that the current shortfall in funding will lead to the challenge of recovering the shortfall through planned underspending against future grant allocations. 

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.