Schools in Lincolnshire to get extra cash for special educational needs but bosses say they also need long-term solutions

Schools are set to receive additional funding to tackle special educational needs pressures – but education chiefs say this is only a short-term fix.

Members of Lincolnshire County Council’s (LCC) schools’ forum were told that schools across the area are set to receive a share of an additional £4.6 million in government funding to tackle special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) cost pressures.

But education bosses say this is not enough and they need to work with schools to develop longer-term solutions to tackle the rise in SEND pupils across the county.

At a meeting on Thursday April 23, Martin Smith, assistant director of children’s education at LCC, said that the Government is expected to allocate the additional money to support schools in Lincolnshire to accommodate more SEND pupils.

The funding covers a three-year spending period and can be used for schools to adapt with high-quality teaching and learning environments.

Mr Smith also told the forum that the Government has published a White Paper outlining a ten-year plan to reduce the additional cost pressures which many schools face as a result of the rise in SEND pupils across the country.

He added: “The schools White Paper sets out ambitions to raise attainment and attendance, reduce disadvantage, strengthen belonging and engagement and invest in the workforce.

“Schools are expected to use funding more strategically and transparently, including pupil premium to demonstrate measurable impact.”

Mr Smith went on to say that the Government has also published a SEND reform Green Paper. This seeks for SEND pupils to receive specialist educational plans so that more can be educated in mainstream schools.

He added: “The SEND reform green paper proposes a redesigned system, including a statutory universal offer delivered by all, schools delivering individual support plans before entering the EHCP (Education, health and care plan) system and a three-tier model of support.

“EHCPs will be reserved for those children who meet the nationally defined threshold and they will be supported through specialist support plans.

“Emphasis on the system is about early identification and inclusive practice and engagement with multidisciplinary teams to ensure outcomes for children and young people are improved by supporting their needs earlier in their educational journey – that they won’t need to escalate into complexity.”

Mr Smith explained that a share of the funding will only be allocated to schools across Lincolnshire on the condition that they produce an ‘inclusion strategy’ by December 2026.

LCC education bosses say they’re working with schools to complete this proposed strategy before the deadline.

Mr Smith added: “While additional funding provides short-term support, ultimately this is about long-term sustainability and depends on strengthened mainstream inclusion, early intervention and collective responsibility for schools, trusts and partners.

“I can reassure the schools’ forum that Lincolnshire’s Better Belonging Strategy contains many of the elements that we would want to see in any reforms – so things like mainstream hubs, SEND AP (Alternative Provision) hubs – fit into that criteria around inclusion bases that the DfE (Department for Education) are promoting as part of the reforms.

“I can assure that schools’ forum that we are confident about making progress and working together.”