***(UK) Bucks Council scared about 80% increase in students with autism in 5 yrs

Jan 18, 2019, Bucks Herald: Just one school place costs the council and Government £28,000 https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/education/just-one-school-place-costs-the-council-and-government-28-000-1-8775390 An average of £28,000 is ploughed into just one school place in Bucks, it has been revealed – as councillors scrutinised next year’s financial plans for education. Bucks County Council’s (BCC) budget scrutiny committee reconvened on January 9 to grill cabinet members on the budget for the financial year 2019/20. Pressures within the home-to-school transport service, special education needs (SEND) and school places were among the hot-topics raised to cabinet member for education, Mike Appleyard. … Finance director for children’s services, Elizabeth Williams, went on to reveal the average secondary school place in Bucks costs £28,000 while a primary school place costs £22,000. However, Cllr Appleyard said the average figures “don’t tell you very much” as special school places can cost a lot more, whereas adding an extra class to an existing school would cost less…. Cllr Appleyard added: “There’s only one big thing in the budget that scares us – and that is the cost of special needs. … “What I am saying to you, as is every authority, special needs is heading in the same direction. That is where we are putting most of our efforts. “It’s big numbers, and because the numbers are growing it’s very difficult to manage them.” Director of education at BCC, Sarah Callaghan, said the key reason for rising SEND costs is an 80 per cent increase of children with autism over the last five years and a 22 per cent increase in pupils with social and emotional behavioural issues. The rise in the number of children with more complex needs leads to increasing home to school transport and placement costs….