Somerset Council's £95m special needs deficit to be written off

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 16:48 · Archive

Somerset Council will write off £95m of its special needs spending deficit after agreeing a recovery plan with the Department for Education.

Somerset Council will write off £95m of its special needs spending deficit following an agreement with the Department for Education (DfE) to implement a spending control plan. Officers had estimated in February that the dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficit would exceed £100m by end of financial year, having accumulated because demand for special education needs and disabilities (SEND) resources has vastly outstripped government funding for years.

The agreement means 90 per cent of the deficit is being cancelled by central government. In addition to the debt write-off, the plan unlocks significant investment to support SEND children and young people across Somerset. The funding will boost the council's 'experts at hand' programme, bringing in more than 50 additional specialist staff.

These specialists will work locally across early years settings, schools and colleges to help people up to the age of 25 receive the right support as early as possible. The council's DSG grant covers budgets for mainstream primary and secondary schools, early years provision and children with special education needs.

How it is being reported

• Government to write off 90 per cent of Somerset Council's special needs deficitSomerset Council has signed a deal with the Department for Education (DfE) which will improve outcomes for young people and reduce a serious deficitBridgwater Mercury · 10 Oct, 16:00
• Government to write off 90 per cent of Somerset Council's special needs deficitSomerset Council has signed a deal with the Department for Education (DfE) which will improve outcomes for young people and reduce a serious deficitSomerset County Gazette · 10 Oct, 16:00

In this story: Somerset Council · Department for Education · Somerset

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem