(UK) Somerset: Govt to cover 90% of $123M local SPED debt provided changes made
Somerset Council will be able to write off 90 per cent of its special needs spending deficit after agreeing a plan with central government.
All Somerset schools which are not academies are currently funded through the dedicated schools grant (DSG), which is provided annually to the council by the Department for Education (DfE).
The DSG grant covers the budgets for individual mainstream primary and secondary schools, along for early years provision (i.e. nursery places) and for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).
Demand for SEND resources has vastly outstripped government funding for years, with officers estimating in February that the council's DSG deficit would exceed £100m [$132M] by the end of the financial year.
The Department for Education (DfE) indicated in February that 90 per cent of this deficit could be written off by central government, provided that a plan to control future spending can be put in place.
The council and DfE have now agreed such a plan, meaning £95m [$125M] of spending will be written off - with "significant investment" being unlocked to support SEND children and young people across the county.
In addition to writing off the debt, the plan will provide investment in the council's 'experts at hand' programme, with more than 50 additional staff being brought in.
These specialists will work locally with early years settings, schools, and colleges to help people up to the age of 25 receive the right support as early as possible.
Somerset Council's headquarters at County Hall on The Crescent in Taunton (Image: NQ staff)
Without this plan being in place, the council would have to meet the cost of the deficit as part of its annual budget from March 2028 - which could force it to declare effective bankruptcy.
Councillor Heather Shearer, portfolio holder for children, families and education, said: "This is an important vote of confidence in Somerset’s plans to transform SEND services.
"The investment will help us provide more support at an earlier stage, strengthen local provision, and enable more children and young people to learn, thrive, and achieve in their communities.
"We know families want support that is timely, consistent, and easier to access.
"We will continue working alongside children, young people, parent carers, and our partners to turn this plan into lasting improvements."
The expanded teams will provide expertise in a range of areas, including social, emotional, and mental health, autism, speech and language therapy, neurodiversity, and occupational therapy.
The reforms will be delivered through the Somerset SEND Partnership, bringing together education, health and care services, schools and settings, parent carers, and children and young people.
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