(UK) Dudley: High cost of SPED forcing schools 'to take money from their general budgets'

Sept 16, 2025, Express and Star: 'Schools are being forced into crisis': Dudley special needs pupils are being short-changed, says MP 

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/education/2025/09/17/schools-are-being-forced-into-crisis-dudley-special-needs-pupils-are-being-short-changed-says-mp 

Central England

Dudley MP Sonia Kumar said children with special educational needs and disabilities faced stark inequalities compared to neighbouring areas.

Miss Kumar said  schools in Dudley were being forced into financial crisis due to the inadequate support provided for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans. 

She called for a shake-up of how funding was allocated.

“The current funding formula is failing our children,” she said. 

“Schools are having to stretch their budgets beyond breaking point to meet the needs of vulnerable pupils.”

She said evidence gathered from schools across the borough showed that Dudley’s top banding for special-needs funding was just £10,000 per pupil, compared to £26,102 in Birmingham, and £21,400 in Worcestershire.

Yet she said the cost of providing full-time one-to-one support for a child with complex needs could exceed £32,000 annually [$44K]. 

 “This means schools are forced to take money from their general budgets, affecting every child in the classroom,” Miss Kumar added. . . .