Wiltshire Council has welcomed a government announcement outlining plans to write off most Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) budget deficits built up by local authorities.
The government confirmed earlier this week that around 90% of historic SEND deficits accumulated by councils up to the end of the 2025/26 financial year will be written off. The shortfalls relate to the High Needs element of the Dedicated Schools Grant, which funds support for children and young people with SEND.
Wiltshire Council had already set aside £18 million to help manage financial pressures linked to the deficit as part of its involvement in the Safety Valve programme. Despite the planned write-off, the authority expects to retain a remaining deficit of around £15 million for 2025/26 which it will need to fund.
The government is expected to set out further details shortly on longer-term reform of SEND funding and provision, which councils say will help with future planning and financial certainty.
Ian Thorn, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “The government’s decision to write off a substantial proportion of SEND deficits is welcome news for Wiltshire and our SEND local area partnership. It will allow us to plan with far more confidence, and because we have carefully managed our financial position, we can continue with our focus on improving experiences and outcomes for children and families with SEND.
“While we await further details from government, the initial picture seems far more positive than before.
“We also look forward to seeing the government’s long-term SEND strategy. The current system is not sustainable and brings significant uncertainty for families and for local authorities during already challenging financial times. We expect more information soon and hope it leads to a system that is fit-for-purpose and works better for everyone.”
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