Fairer funding call for special needs education in Staffordshire

The Schools Forum has declared the county is 'poorly funded' compared to other parts of the country.

Last year Staffordshire County Council applied for funding to commission an extra 148 places for high-needs pupils but was only granted money for 18.

As a result the authority had to rely on education funding from elsewhere as well as reserves to make up the shortfall which it states will not be possible in the future.

Will Wilkes, speaking for the forum, said: "Due to the underfunding of high needs, a contribution from the Dedicated Schools Grant balances continues to support the overall budget.

"The Special Educational Needs and Disability review will be considering how this can be managed in the future, as unless Staffordshire receives higher funding from a new fairer funding system the situation is not sustainable in the long term."

He added: "Staffordshire remains very poorly funded on the High Needs Block when compared to other authorities. The authority will continue to work hard to secure fairer funding for Staffordshire."

The Government has submit papers outlining a fairer funding for schools which will be in place for next year.

County Councillor Ben Adams, learning and skills chief, told the Express & Star: "For years Staffordshire has been underfunded across the board.

"The Government announced a fairer funding mechanism for schools which we have welcomed. It should, over the next three or four years, mean more money per pupil. It is just ridiculous that pupils down in London receive two and half times more per pupil than in Staffordshire."

He added: "We get our funding in several blocks and for the children who need the most support we get funding through our higher-needs block.

"The difference this year is the Government has announced the fairer funding formula and the higher needs block will be reviewed as part of that.

"We have been able to use other schools' money but that is going to be less open to us."