Oxfordshire Council Demands Government Clarity on Long-Term SEND Funding

Oxfordshire County Council is set to formally request urgent clarification from the government regarding its long-term strategy for financing special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provisions. This action follows the approval of a motion introduced by Lib Dem councillor Jane Hanna by Oxfordshire County Council on Tuesday. For the fiscal year 2023 to 2024, Oxfordshire’s high needs block is projected to have a deficit of £21.3m, contributing to an estimated national deficit of £3.16bn across England. Ms Hanna stated that local authorities are “facing bankruptcy by March 2026.” Central government allocates funding for SEND pupils to local councils via the high needs block, which is part of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). During last week’s budget announcement, the chancellor declared an additional £1bn in funding for the education system specifically for SEND children. Rebecca, whose son Marcus has autism, described a “black hole” in Oxfordshire concerning specialist schools. She recounted, “My son has had an ECHP (Education and Health Care Plan) since 2014, and we’re still having difficulty trying to get into a school.” Rebecca added, “We’ve already been rejected from seven schools and educational settings and we’ve been going around a 70 mile perimeter away from our house.” She expressed willingness to drive her son two hours to a suitable school, yet continued to face challenges in securing a school placement for him. Sharon informed BBC Radio Oxford that the process of securing a school place for her son Charlie, who has special educational needs, resulted in her experiencing a nervous breakdown. She explained that she resigned from her care assistant position, which she “loved,” to homeschool Charlie for five years. Sharon stated, “We were just forgotten about. I was ringing, I was begging them (the council) on the phone for help and that help never came.” She further described the period as, “It was dreadful, the longest five years of my life.” Ms Hanna acknowledged that the council had achieved “progress” in addressing communication challenges with families of SEND children. She commented that the existing system “is not working for the authorities” nor for the parents. Ms Hanna asserted, “The finances in Oxfordshire are very well managed but this is massive financial pressure.” She continued, “We welcome the £1bn uplift for SEND but it doesn’t do anything to place the local authority on a sustainable footing.” She cautioned that without systemic changes, one-quarter of local authorities could face insolvency within a year, with another quarter following within three years. Councillor Kate Gregory, who serves as the cabinet member for SEND Improvement, remarked: “Since the Ofsted inspection in 2023, we have committed an additional £1 million to support SEND services in Oxfordshire. There will also be an additional 300 special places available by 2028 as new schools are completed.”