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(UK) Dudley special education system faces $6.5M (US) overspend

Nov 28, 2019, Birmingham Mail: Rethink on special education as mainstream schools reject £1m proposal in Dudley https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/rethink-special-education-mainstream-schools-17329811 'The consistent theme coming through from the discussions in the consultation events is that there is a complete lack of trust and belief in the SEND system' Dudley Council said it is having to rethink plans after mainstream schools rejected a proposal to switch £1 million into education for children with disabilities. The dismissal came as headteachers and governors said there is a complete lack of trust in the borough’s Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. The council revealed in September that the cost of the service is predicted to overrun by £5 million this year. Figures sent out to schools during a consultation warned that figure could increase to £22 million by March 2024…. A meeting of the Schools Forum held on Wednesday was told a recommendation to transfer funds from secondary education into the High Needs Block allocation was opposed by 90 per cent of respondents. Out of ten responses, nine rejected the plan….H FOR “The consistent theme coming through from the discussions in the consultation events is that there is a complete lack of trust and belief in the SEND system.” The consultation findings are a blow to education bosses who wanted to transfer 0.5 per cent of next year’s predicted £206 million mainstream schools’ budget into SEND’s High Needs Block funding. This would have been in addition to £35 million the council is hoping it will get from the government for schooling children with disabilities.

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