April 25, 2022,The Star: Rotherham Council cabinet accepts £20m “safety valve” plan to address funding black hole for youngsters with SEN https://www.thestar.co.uk/education/rotherham-council-cabinet-accepts-ps20m-safety-valve-plan-to-address-funding-black-hole-for-youngsters-with-sen-3667903
Central England
The council, along with many other local authorities across the UK, faces a funding deficit due to the growth in demand for special educational needs (SEND) provision exceeding the government funding provided.
The agreement will see the DfE invest £20.5m [$26M] to address the deficit over the lifespan of the agreement – from 2021/22 to 2025/26.
The DfE has committed to paying the council £8.53m [$10.9M] of safety valve funding in 2021/22, followed by £3m [$3.8M] for the next four financial years.
Councillor Chris Read, leader of the council told today’s cabinet meeting (April 25): “Rotherham, like lots of other places, the cost of providing [education for youngsters with SEND] has exceeded the amount of money that’s been available through that every year, which puts you in a strange kind of limbo position about where that money comes from….
