Devon facing £4.5m shortfall in special needs school funding
Devon is reportedly facing a funding shortfall of £4.5 million in the ‘high needs’ education budget, which supports children with special needs, according to a report from the BBC.
The high needs budget is for children with learning difficulties and serious physical disabilities in mainstream and special schools. Currently 17.1 per cent of Devon’s 96,900 school children have the funding, which accounts for around £57 million of the overall £507 million education budget.
The shortfall is a result of cuts to government grants, which are set to fall from £151.6 million next year to £102.3 million in 2018-19.
According to the BBC report, a letter sent to county councillors said the high needs funding could be made up by taking money from mainstream schools, but at the moment no official decision has been made.
Read moreLatest News
23/09/2025 - 10:18
The Education Committee has released a new report outlining ways the government can achieve its mission of economic growth by investing in the further education (FE) and skills sector.
22/09/2025 - 11:15
Premier League Primary Stars is offering a new set of free teaching resources aimed at making football and PE lessons more inclusive, especially for girls, who remain less likely than boys to participate in sport.
19/09/2025 - 14:07
A number of school leaders under union NAHT have expressed strong opposition to Ofsted’s planned new inspection framework, with an overwhelming majority backing industrial action if the reforms go ahead as planned.
18/09/2025 - 09:33
A new report has been released which shines a light on the challenges young carers face in England’s education system, focusing on their disproportionately high rates of suspensions.
