Following recent news about increased funding for Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) on the Isle of Wight, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, asks, ‘have we reached a funding turning point at last?’
Mr Shreeve told News OnTheWight,
“For years high needs Government funding has not matched rising special needs spending. Indeed, the way parents have had to fight for their children’s needs, has been described as a ‘jungle’. The Isle of Wight safety valve intervention programme, intends to deliver better service and value to SEND pupils. Have we reached a funding turning point at last?”
The ‘safety valve’
He explained,
“In July 2021, the DfE offered a ‘safety valve’ to counteract high needs deficit spending. In short, if LAs (Local Authorities) manage their high needs spending in a sustainable way, then the deficit is wiped.
“As we reach the end of the first year of the Island’s ‘safety valve’ agreement (2022/23), it is soon to receive an extra £5.08m. If high needs becomes more sustainable, the DfE will wipe the total deficit in 2026/27.”
The overall intention
Mr Shreeve went on to add,
“Examples of sustainability were presented at last week’s Island schools forum meeting.
“The overall intention: to build resilience by giving pupils the tools and confidence to remain and progress within mainstream settings. Special needs staff will have opportunities to update skills, collaborate with other SEND specialists and thus help grow pupil resilience.
“It was said in the meeting, there had been no permanent exclusions in Island primary schools this year. This should continue as the Primary Behaviour Service expands this coming September and early intervention support in mainstream schools increases.
“More specialist placements in Island schools should provide better provision and minimise more expensive off-Island placements.”
‘Employability hub’ and ‘supported internships’
Explaining what he feels needs to happen in the coming years, Mr Shreeve added,
“Post-16 high-needs students will engage more closely with the world of work. The plan being to create an ‘employability hub’ and ‘supported internships’ with local businesses.
“These local plans are ambitious. Wiping the deficit at the end of the 2026/7 financial year will clearly bring stability.”
Shreeve: Hoping every school participates
He finished by saying,
“We can only hope, that every school, no matter who sponsors it participates together with all other schools to abolish the Isle of Wight high-needs deficit. After all, all Island pupils will benefit.
“The only question: Why has it taken national government a decade to come up with this funding ‘safety valve’ plan?”
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