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'Cluster' plan to keep more kids in mainstream schools

The Sentinel

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July 28, 2025

Council hopes it will cut SEND overspend

- Phil Corrigan

MORE children with special needs will be supported to stay in mainstream schools as a council aims to bring down a multi-million pound overspend.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has a £22.4 million cumulative deficit on its dedicated schools grant (DSG), a figure which is expected to rise to £38.8 million by the end of 2025/26.

The overspend is being driven by a rapid increase in the number of children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) - a national issue affecting most local authorities in England.

In Stoke-on-Trent, the number of children with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) has increased from 2,390 in 2021 to 3,472 this year. Many SEND children go to costly private schools, with 34 per cent of youngsters with EHCPs in Stoke-on-Trent attending mainstream schools, compared to 40 per cent nationally.

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