SEND: Ministers reject BCP Council's schools budget plan

BCP Council proposed balancing its designated schools grant deficit in 15 years

A council plan to tackle overspending on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has been rejected by the Department for Education (DfE).

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) is facing a £63.4m deficit in its designated schools grant budget.

It was invited to join Safety Valve, a government rescue plan offering funding in return for it balancing its books.

But BCP said ministers did not agree to its 15-year budget plan and it would therefore not be joining the scheme.

Cathi Hadley, BCP Council's children's services director, said: "We have been informed that ministers have decided that the DfE could not enter into an agreement with BCP Council at this time, based on our most recent proposal.

"This does not mean BCP Council has been rejected from the Safety Valve programme.

"We remain committed to working with the DfE, teachers, parents, children and young people to deliver a solution that protects education provision for all going forward."

Richard Burton said a lack of SEND funding was a national problem

BCP's proposal had included cuts to school spending, which the National Education Union described as "terrifying".

Thousands of people also signed a petition against the plan.

BCP Council told DfE it could not balance its designated schools grant budget within five years without cutting schools' budgets by more than 10%, but it offered to do it in 15 years.

Richard Burton, BCP Council's portfolio holder for children's services, said: "Adequate funding for SEND is a national problem.

"While the Safety Valve could help us address this issue, we have been clear we would never sign up to an option that would jeopardise the education provision for any of our children."

Campaign group BCP Alliance for Children and Schools said it was "delighted" BCP would not be joining Safety Valve.

Founder Rachel Filmer said: "We remain alert to the risks of BCP's ongoing work with central government to manage the SEND funding issue, which could still mean harsh cuts to statutory services."

DfE previously said it could not comment on Safety Valve negotiations but added participation in the programme was "entirely voluntary".

"The programme is not about cuts to services but ensuring local authorities use their available funding in the best way, for the benefit of children and young people," it said.