West Sussex County Council has secured £182.7 million in additional government funding to help manage the financial pressures affecting its special educational needs and disabilities services.
The money has been provided through the High Needs Stability Grant and accounts for 90 per cent of the local authority’s accumulated SEND deficit.
That deficit has been building as the number of children and young people requiring support has continued to rise faster than the level of funding provided through the Dedicated Schools Grant.
Councillor Sam Raby, who serves as cabinet member for children, young people and learning, said supporting those with special educational needs and disabilities remained among the council’s most pressing commitments.
The government had approved West Sussex’s SEND Reform Plan and agreed to provide the maximum amount the authority was permitted to claim, representing a significant milestone.
According to Councillor Raby, the outcome demonstrated what could be achieved through partnership working, a focus on inclusive practices, and the strengthening of internal procedures aimed at delivering improved results for young people.
Nevertheless, she pointed out that central government funding still fell short of what was required to meet the actual cost of providing SEND support in West Sussex.
The trajectory of borrowing needed to fund these services locally and in other parts of the country was described as financially untenable.