THE number of children with special educational needs in Barnsley is now at its highest-ever rate, a report has revealed.
Set to be discussed by an audit and governance committee at Barnsley Town Hall on Wednesday, councillors will hear about what is being done to achieve positive outcomes for those in need.
An education, health and care plan (EHCP) are tailored to children and young people who need more support than is available through conventional special educational needs help.
EHCPs identify their individual needs and set out the additional support required.
There are more than 600 youngsters with one in Barnsley, figures show.
A council report said: “The percentage of children now receiving SEN support continues to increase and is now at the highest rate ever recorded in Barnsley.
“The Barnsley SEND Community Consortium is now established and the Department for Education recognised significant progress has been made regarding this piece of work to ensure parent and carer participation in the local area.
“Our improvement team continue to provide support and challenge to achieve our inclusive Barnsley ambition and approach.”
In total, Barnsley schools received a budget of £226.6m for this year but just £1.1m is allocated to special education needs support, leading critics to call on the government to reverse declining budgets across the country.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said although the funding arrangements pre-date this government, Labour must make changes.
He added: “Schools should be at the front of the queue when it comes to investment, which is vital to the success of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and ensure children from all backgrounds in every part of the country can thrive.
“The number of children needing additional support through education and healthcare plans is now at a record high, but many families are still waiting too long for the assessments, and provision that they need.
“The current system is simply not sustainable.”
Barnsley South MP Stephanie Peacock, who has raised the matter in Parliament, has previously voiced her worries after the council was reported to have accumulated an £11m deficit in its SEND budget, with the potential to rise to more than £36m by 2024/25.
A ‘significant cost driver’ has been the number of youngsters with school places outside of the borough.
It was revealed last year that 220 children and young people from Barnsley have an out-of-borough school place, at a total cost of £11.2m.
Without the necessary funding from the government, local authorities like Barnsley don’t have enough to provide SEND places for those who need it, resulting in local nurseries and schools being forced to turn children away, according to the MP.
“Labour will prioritise improving opportunity for children with SEND,” she said.
“Having raised the issue of SEND in Parliament a number of times, and having held a public meeting with parents, my office has worked with a number of families to advocate for them and offer support, working with both schools and the local authority.
“I know this will be important news for many families in Barnsley.”
