Lib Dem councillors have welcomed the news that from 2028/29, the Government will take full responsibility for all future SEND spending, shifting the growing financial pressure away from councils.
Currently, Milton Keynes City Council receives a ring-fenced grant from the DfE (Department for Education), known as the dedicated schools grant to pay for SEND support.
But as of 2028/29, central government will take on this cost.
This comes as demand for EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans) has skyrocketed in recent years, leaving councils across the country spending billions more than they get from the Government.
Lib Dem councillors in Miltobn Keynes say the shift in responsibility shows the Government is finally taking the issue seriously and is a step towards ensuring children and young people receive the support they need.
“This change is long overdue," said Councillor Nana Ama Ofori-Atta, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Children’s Services, "Councils like Milton Keynes have been forced to absorb costs far beyond what the Government has provided, even as the demand for SEND support continues to rise. Having campaigned for SEND reform for years, the Government’s decision gives me hope that they are finally heading in the right direction to addressing the crisis.”
Lib Dem Spokesperson for Finance, Councillor Peter Cannon, said: “Whilst this announcement is positive, we still need clear answers on how it will be funded and what it means for the huge SEND deficits councils are already carrying.
"Any meaningful SEND reform must also deal with home-to-school transport where costs continue to rise and councils across the country are forced to overspend just to keep children getting to school. At the moment, we don’t know if transport will be included in the new funding arrangements or how much vital support we might lose," he added.
Full plans for reforms to the SEND system are expected to be laid out early next year.
