Mar 25, 2024, Kirklees Today: New deal confirmed to support children and families with additional needs
N. England
We are pleased to confirm that the government has agreed to extend our funding agreement on services for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The ‘safety valve’ agreement helps the council and its partners to deliver high-quality SEND support to children and families whilst also meeting a sharp increase in need and complexity.
SEND funding is a national issue and for several years the council has argued that government funding is not enough to meet local demand, leading to a large financial deficit.
The council receives £2.3million [$2.9M] per year through the safety valve agreement and this will now be paid over a longer period, up to 2030.
Transforming SEND services is one of the council’s biggest priorities and is about achieving the best possible outcomes for children, young people and families, as well as bringing down costs to make the support financially sustainable. .
Tom Brailsford, Strategic Director of Children’s Services, said:
. . . “We’re pleased to be working with the Department for Education to address the challenges we face in meeting increased demand. There are thousands of Kirklees children with additional needs and they need extra help to thrive and fulfil their potential. We are hugely committed to providing this support and to changing vulnerable lives for the better.”
The Kirklees SEND transformation programme includes multi-million pound investments in special school facilities so that pupils with additional needs can be educated locally and see their outcomes and life chances improve. . . .
