Nov 16, 2021, Brent and Kilburn Times: Special needs school '£5m [$6.7] short of staying open' https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/local-council/brent-council-needs-to-keep-special-school-running-8495332
London borough
A report presented to Brent Council’s schools’ forum showed it expects to spend around £4.6 million [$6.2M] more this year than it receives from a government grant.
This is despite the council’s allocation increasing by £5m [$6.7] to help address the increased demand for services.
Council officers put the situation down to an increase in the number of children in Brent needing specialist education, as well as a rise in the number of “complex cases” in the borough. …
The council report said it will review any extra education packages currently in place for pupils – some of which cost up to £20,000 [$27K-a-year.
The council could also introduce top-up charges of five per cent to those providing special needs services, which would result in around £39,000 worth of extra income.
It also intends to run a £500,000 [$670,000] pilot scheme that will look at how to improve support for those with special education needs.
The report added the council will continue to lobby the government for more support in this area given the struggles it is facing.
While there are issues with funding for children with special needs, spending across the wider schools network in Brent is expected to be covered by the government grant. …
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