(UK) Lancashire schools see $13M (US) shortfall next year in SPED

Jan 20, 2019, Lancashire Post: Special needs schools face cost over-run https://www.lep.co.uk/news/education/special-needs-schools-face-cost-over-run-1-9546151 The leader of Lancashire County Council says the area’s schools need more funding - and that he will be trying to persuade the government to provide it. … Lancashire will receive a total schools grant of £947m for 2019/20, an increase of £28m on the previous twelve months. However, a report to cabinet members concluded that a ”significant element “ of the extra money was simply due to an increase in the number of pupils. … In Lancashire, the funding squeeze is most keenly felt in that part of the budget reserved for so-called “high needs” pupils - covering special schools, as well resources for special educational needs in mainstream settings. The report states that the special needs sector is under “considerable financial strain” in the county. Lancashire County Council has taken part in a nationwide project to try to determine the root cause of the cost pressures. But Labour opposition leader Azhar Ali requested - and received - an assurance from cabinet member for schools, Susie Charles, that the authority would also write to government about the situation. The high needs element of Lancashire’s schools budget has a shortfall of £10m [$13M US dollars] during 2019/20. The area has received an extra £2.6m from government in a one-off grant, but is having to find the rest from other parts of the schools budget and a savings programme.