Last week I wrote to the education secretary to raise the growing concern regarding shortfalls in funding for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), via the high needs block within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). 

Research recently carried out by SLT shows that 21 boroughs have had an in-year deficit on the DSG in 2017/18 and that 13 boroughs are now carrying forward into the next year an accumulated deficit in their balance sheet of £48m on DSG. This is a growing and worrying trend, which is mainly driven by the costs coming through the high needs block. Last year 27 boroughs reported overspending against their fund allocation in 2017/18 by nearly £55m and 14 boroughs reported an accumulated deficit of £73m.