Cash boost to provide facilities for children with special educational needs

A funding boost to create additional school places and state-of-the-art facilities for children with special educational needs and disabilities will enable vulnerable children in Devon to be taught closer to home.

The Government announced late on Tuesday night that £50million would be given to councils across the country, with more than half the councils in England receiving more than £225,000 and every council getting at least £115,000.

Devon County Council have said they welcome the announcement and that it will help provide better facilities for children with specific educational needs.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet member for schools and deputy leader, Councillor James McInnes, said: “We’ve already approved the creation of more than 100 extra special school places in Devon over the next two years.

“This means that more of our most vulnerable children can be taught closer to home instead of travelling out of their communities.

“We’ve been lobbying the Government for more resources for special needs education in general and this extra cash will go some way in helping us provide better facilities for children with specific needs.”

A council spokesman added that they could not say exactly where the money would be spent until they had seen the full details of what they would be given.

Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “All parents want to send their child to a good local school, one that meets their individual needs and supports them to achieve their full potential, regardless of the challenges they may face. This funding will help to create thousands more school places across the country, with a clear focus on transforming the experience of education for children with special educational needs or disabilities.

“Today’s announcement aims to remove some of the barriers to a good education for children with additional needs and make sure Britain is a country that truly works for everyone.”