(UK) Gloucestershire gets $1.71M (US) for SPED deficit; $4M (US) expected next year

Dec 18, 2018, Stroud News and Journal: Headteachers welcome plans to help plug education budget holes https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/17306330.headteachers-welcome-plans-to-help-plug-education-budget-holes/ It is understood Gloucestershire will receive an extra £1.35 million [$1.71M US dollars] this year and next from the government scheme. Andrew Harris, headteacher at Katharine Lady Berkeley School, welcomed the news: “We are pleased that the Secretary of State has recognised the serious funding pressure on the provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities by making additional funding available for these vulnerable children. … David Drew MP said: “The government has, at last, listened to headteachers, parents and education experts and is finally starting to recognise that schools face a financial crisis. “I welcome the announcement of extra funds are available and that Gloucestershire County Council is no longer seeking to fill the £3million [$4M US] hole in the county’s High Needs budget by transferring funds from schools’ core budgets. It would have been another blow to Stroud schools and children who are already facing budget constraints. “This is good news, but there is still a long way to go. The deficit in high needs funding in Gloucestershire is £3 million and is expected to be in deficit again next year. …