Delivering Better Value

16 June 2022

Cheshire East Council has been invited by the government to participate in a new programme to put high needs funding on a more sustainable footing.

The high needs funding system supports services for children and young people with SEND from their early years to age 25, enabling both councils and other organisations to meet their statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014.

Like many councils, Cheshire East currently has a deficit in its dedicated schools grant budget as a result of high needs cost pressures. 

Now the Department for Education (DfE) has invited the council to take part in the Delivering Better Value Programme which will provide dedicated support to 55 local authorities with similar deficit issues. DfE says the £85 million programme will help councils to respond more effectively to planned special educational needs and/or disabilities reforms.

You can read more in a briefing prepared for the council’s Children and Families Committee.