Worcestershire approved for £162.7m SEND deficit bailout

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 06:19 · Archive

The Department for Education has approved Worcestershire County Council's SEND reform plan, making it eligible for £162.7m in government funding.

The Department for Education has approved Worcestershire County Council's three-year plan to improve support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The approval makes the authority eligible for an indicative £162.7 million government grant to cover around 90 per cent of its historic Dedicated Schools Grant deficit, which has accumulated due to rising SEND costs.

The council's eligible deficit stood at about £180.8m on 31 March this year, leaving a remaining balance of around £18.1m not covered by the grant. County councillors have expressed frustration at the time taken to reach this point, warning that delays were leaving taxpayers exposed to rising interest costs. The council expects to have spent £5.4m in interest costs on the deficit by the end of November and warns Worcestershire could still face costs of about £40.6m after March 2028.

Dan Boatright-Greene, cabinet member for education, SEND and skills, welcomed the decision but said the authority would continue pressing ministers to cover the full cost. 'The financial support that comes alongside the approval is welcome, particularly in addressing the historic deficit,' he said. 'However, sustainable and fair funding for SEND remains essential and we will continue to make that case to Government.'

How it is being reported

• Worcestershire moves closer to £162.7m SEND bailout after government approvalTHE LONG-AWAITED government write-off of a council’s huge special educational needs deficit has moved a step closer after ministers approved the authority's SEND reform plan.Malvern Gazette · 9 Oct, 05:00
• Worcestershire moves closer to £162.7m SEND bailout after government approvalTHE LONG-AWAITED government write-off of a council’s huge special educational needs deficit has moved a step closer after ministers approved the authority's SEND reform plan.Worcester News · 9 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Worcestershire County Council · Department for Education · Dan Boatright-Greene · Worcestershire

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