Lincolnshire County Council is contemplating an additional £22 million investment in specific educational needs (Send) due to the escalating demand for these places. Encountering an upwards trend of young people in need of special educational help, the council predicts the necessity of 700 more Send places within the forthcoming three years.
Presently, several mainstream schools throughout the county are unable to offer the specific help required in Send education, thus relying on the more costly private sector. Mark Popplewell, the Council’s children’s services strategic finance leader, has pinpointed the surge in pupils with complex needs as a significant challenge for schools ill-equipped for their support.
According to Mr Popplewell, because of the special schools’ scarcity in the area, the council has resorted to the specialist market for extra support that comes attached with increased costs. Although Lincolnshire currently has 17 special and five alternative provision state-funded schools, this hasn’t sufficed. Despite setting aside a budget of £141 million earmarked for Send provision and committing over £101 million to its extension and betterment, projections indicate approximately 700 more special school places will be needed in three years.
Mr Popplewell revealed that the council is investigating potential cost-cutting methods and savings, acknowledging the significant impact of the £22 million deficit on local government finances. Stressing the unfeasibility of inaction, he urged locally sourced solutions as well as government intervention to tackle the matter. Earlier this year, Sean Matthews, the council leader, warned of possible service reduction as a means to save over £25 million in the following fiscal year.
