A HANDFUL of children who were deemed eligible to receive rare ‘personal budgets’ to streamline their education cost Barnsley Council almost a quarter of a million pounds in just a year.
According to a Freedom of Information request, a total of £241,752 was spent on providing tailored education packages to the 11 youngsters who all have special needs.
The cash - identified by Barnsley Council to deliver certain parts to support kids with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) - allows parents and carers to make decisions about how funding is used to meet needs.
There are more than 600 youngsters with an EHCP in Barnsley, figures show - a record-breaking high.
However, charities say just five per cent of EHCPs issued across the country have qualified for personal education budgets.
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 the end of the financial year.
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.
“I know that SEND provision has been a major concern for people across Barnsley.
“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.”
Barnsley youngsters are to benefit from a £740m cash injection from the government which can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND, and to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs.
A council report added: “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.”
Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson said the government is committed to helping more youngsters achieve.
“The current picture is stark - for too long, too many children with additional needs haven’t been getting support early enough, with dire consequences when issues escalate.
“But my commitment to reform - making tangible change to the SEND system to improve experiences for children and families - could not be clearer, and building a system where more children with SEND can attend mainstream schools is central to our plans.
“We are determined to break down barriers to opportunity for all children and will work closely with local authorities, schools and families to ensure inclusion is at the heart of learning and that all pupils are getting the support they need to achieve and thrive.”
