Council leader's plea for special education reform

THE leader of Northumberland County Council has issued a plea to the Government urging reform of special education.

- JAMES ROBINSON

Coun Glen Sanderson said that demand for the local authority's special educational need and disability (SEND) services has rocketed by 92% while funding has gone up by just 16%.

Between 2017 and 2024, the number of children with an education and healthcare plan (EHCP) in Northumberland rose by 104.11% and a further 22.49% in 2024/25. This has led to huge financial pressure - in July, school leaders were told that the high-needs block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) overspent by £9.187m in 2024/25.

‘The total number of children with an EHCP stood at than 4,100 at the end of the academic year this summer. ‘That figure is expected to rise to 4,800 by the end of the next school year.

Describing the current situation as “unsustainable; Coun Sanderson said: “I'm acutely aware of the increasing pressures faced by all councils and in past four years alone, the demand for SEND provision in Northumberland has increased by 92%, with funding only increasing by 16%.