I welcome the announcement that the Government will be boosting councils across the country with £850 million to ensure that there is enough provision and capacity for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
It is vital that SEND gets the funding that is required to ensure that pupils with SEND receive the support that they need and have access to the same opportunities. The Government recognises this and that is why the high-needs budget has increased by over 60% since 2019/20 to over £10.5 billion in 2024-25.
I am pleased that Medway will receive £5,447,728 from this funding to ensure that pupils in Medway with SEND have school places that meet their needs. Medway will benefit from this funding and will mean that children with SEND, and alternative provision (AP) receive an education that meets their needs in high-quality environments.
The funding will provide specialist support for children with learning difficulties, autism, mobility difficulties and more to meet their needs. The £850 million annually from 2022-25 will help to deliver 60,000 more special needs places since 2010.
I will continue to ensure that Medway’s young people receive the education they deserve.
