Council forecasts £25.8 million overspend from special educational needs pressures
Education chiefs now say that they expect to spend more than £25 million over budget on schools in Lincolnshire due to the demand of special educational needs.
Members of Lincolnshire County Council’s executive heard that the authority is predicting a £25.8 million overspend on its schools budget by the end of this financial year.
This is an increase from the county council’s previous forecast in October of a £22.3 million overspend.
Coun Natalie Oliver (Reform UK), portfolio holder for children’s services, told members at a meeting on Tuesday, December 2, that the county council was working hard to address the issue.
She said: “The pressures and the demands that we are seeing in children’s services are significant and also national.
“As officers have explained, we continue to do all we can to mitigate those costs, such as the ambitious Better Belonging strategy and also bringing in placements in terms of our short-stay children’s homes.
“It is important to recognise that we do deliver high-quality services at some of the lowest costs in the country.
“However, as Lincolnshire County Council is one of the lower funded councils, we do recognise that our pressures create a challenge for the council, and as I say, we will continue to do all we can to mitigate those costs.”
In June, the county council announced that it would be spending more than £7 million to create 13 special educational needs hubs at schools across Lincolnshire.
The authority said the new hubs are expected to be completed by autumn 2026 and will create an additional 210 places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Michelle Grady, assistant director of strategic finance at the county council, told members of the executive that forecast overspend was “driven by the pressures on the high needs block” in Lincolnshire and that this remained an issue for many other councils across the country.
She went on to say that the overspend is separate from the county council’s general fund meaning that it “shouldn’t impact on the other finances of the council”.
- Lincolnshire Conservatives have criticised the Reform leadership of the council, claiming that major reductions have been “quietly revealed” at a recent Overview and Scrutiny meeting, “buried deep within lengthy finance reports”.
The opposition group claim that the Reform administration have delayed, cancelled or rephased spending across core frontline services, including Children’s Services.
They said that £12.832m has been delayed for SEND pupils with Education, Health and Care plans; £1.117m is delayed for basic need school places; £0.4m delayed for school classroom projects; and £0.086m delayed for the Lincolnshire Secure Unit in Sleaford.
Speaking after the meeting, Conservative group leader, Coun Richard Davies claimed the cuts are not being announced openly, adding: “They are creeping out in obscure finance tables under scrutiny. Residents deserve honesty."
He said: "Delaying over £12 million of SEND capital does absolutely nothing for the children who need places now. These decisions hit statutory services and create real pressures for families and schools."
Coun Natalie Oliver, executive member for children’s services, denied they were cuts, explaining: “On all major projects, we’ll forecast when spending is likely to occur as part of our budgeting process. It’s not unusual for these forecasts to be revised and the timing of spending changed as things move forward. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as works starting sooner or later than anticipated or projects coming in under budget. The Tories know this, and I find it incredibly disappointing that they are tainting our services for vulnerable children in the attempt to score cheap political points. “The council has not changed its plans regarding investment in SEND improvements, and work continues on creating new spaces within special schools and new SEND hubs in mainstream schools.”