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| Special needs cash shortfall 'leaves thousands of pupils unplaced' | Special needs cash shortfall 'leaves thousands of pupils unplaced' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A shortage of special needs funding means growing numbers of children are being left without suitable school places, a teachers' leader has warned. | A shortage of special needs funding means growing numbers of children are being left without suitable school places, a teachers' leader has warned. |
| National Education Union leader Kevin Courtney said official statistics showed 4,050 special needs pupils were without a place in 2017 in England. | National Education Union leader Kevin Courtney said official statistics showed 4,050 special needs pupils were without a place in 2017 in England. |
| He said it was a disgrace that such pupils were at home because councils were being "starved" of funds for them. | He said it was a disgrace that such pupils were at home because councils were being "starved" of funds for them. |
| The government said money for schools and special needs had been protected. | The government said money for schools and special needs had been protected. |
| It was due to rise to its highest ever level of £43bn in 2020, with £6bn allocated for special educational needs this year, it said. | It was due to rise to its highest ever level of £43bn in 2020, with £6bn allocated for special educational needs this year, it said. |
| But the Department for Education figures showed the number of pupils with special needs (SEND) without a school place last year had more than doubled from 1,710 in 2016. | But the Department for Education figures showed the number of pupils with special needs (SEND) without a school place last year had more than doubled from 1,710 in 2016. |
| 'Impossible position' | 'Impossible position' |
| The warning comes after it emerged scores of local authorities have asked to switch money targeted at their main schools budget to spend on children with special educational needs. | The warning comes after it emerged scores of local authorities have asked to switch money targeted at their main schools budget to spend on children with special educational needs. |
| Councils are allocated funds for special needs in both mainstream and special schools through their "high needs" budgets. | Councils are allocated funds for special needs in both mainstream and special schools through their "high needs" budgets. |
| They have been complaining of shortfalls in this budget as it has been "cash flat" for a number of years (ie, the total does not account for inflation). | They have been complaining of shortfalls in this budget as it has been "cash flat" for a number of years (ie, the total does not account for inflation). |
| At the same time, the number of pupils on plans setting out their special needs, EHCPs, has been growing. | At the same time, the number of pupils on plans setting out their special needs, EHCPs, has been growing. |
| Pupils on EHCPs have defined special needs for which extra support staff or equipment is required. | Pupils on EHCPs have defined special needs for which extra support staff or equipment is required. |
| It could be a result of a diagnosis of autism or Asperger's syndrome; the child may have a hearing or visual impairment or a complex combination of diagnosis or disabilities. | It could be a result of a diagnosis of autism or Asperger's syndrome; the child may have a hearing or visual impairment or a complex combination of diagnosis or disabilities. |
| 'You're thrown to the wolves' | |
| Sandy Jonsson's son Harrison, 11, suffers from autism and ADHD. | |
| He was given an EHCP in 2014 and received good care in primary school, but after moving to a secondary school in Swindon in September 2017, Harrison began to struggle. | |
| Ms Jonsson said he has had a nervous breakdown and subsequently developed an eating disorder and depression. | |
| As a result, the single mother - who runs a business from home - was forced to home school Harrison until at least September, as there are no other school places available. | |
| "Unless you're significantly disabled or have a tangible form of autism you're thrown to the wolves," she said. | |
| "With the EHCP there's a requirement for schools to make reasonable adjustment and none of this happened." | |
| She believes there needs to be greater oversight on how EHCP money is spent by schools, and has campaigned on the issue. | |
| According to a survey by the Association of Directors of Children's Services, there was a £400m shortfall in high needs funding last year. | According to a survey by the Association of Directors of Children's Services, there was a £400m shortfall in high needs funding last year. |
| On top of this, schools have to provide £6,000 per year per pupil on an EHCP. | On top of this, schools have to provide £6,000 per year per pupil on an EHCP. |
| Mr Courtney said: "Children are at home because local authorities don't have enough money to provide suitable education. | Mr Courtney said: "Children are at home because local authorities don't have enough money to provide suitable education. |
| "Local authorities are being placed in an impossible position. | "Local authorities are being placed in an impossible position. |
| "They have a legal duty to plan high quality education for every child with SEND, but cuts have taken away the resources they need to educate children with complex needs." | "They have a legal duty to plan high quality education for every child with SEND, but cuts have taken away the resources they need to educate children with complex needs." |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| As of this year, councils have to ask the education secretary for permission to do this unless they can get head teachers locally to agree. | As of this year, councils have to ask the education secretary for permission to do this unless they can get head teachers locally to agree. |
| Official figures obtained by the BBC showed 48 local education authorities - almost a third - asked for permission to switch the money from the dedicated schools grant to their high needs budget. | Official figures obtained by the BBC showed 48 local education authorities - almost a third - asked for permission to switch the money from the dedicated schools grant to their high needs budget. |
| The DfE approved 16 and said no to 12. A further 20 councils withdrew their applications. | The DfE approved 16 and said no to 12. A further 20 councils withdrew their applications. |
| West Sussex was one of the local authorities which asked to reallocate general schools budget cash to high needs. | West Sussex was one of the local authorities which asked to reallocate general schools budget cash to high needs. |
| The DfE agreed to allow the council to take £2.2m from its general school funds to boost special educational needs services. | The DfE agreed to allow the council to take £2.2m from its general school funds to boost special educational needs services. |
| Although its funding was boosted by £12.8m or 6.5% for the coming year, the number of pupils with special needs plans is likely to increase by 500 - an increase of 10%. | Although its funding was boosted by £12.8m or 6.5% for the coming year, the number of pupils with special needs plans is likely to increase by 500 - an increase of 10%. |
| The DfE said local authorities had always been able to adapt their funding allocation to meet local needs, as long as they followed a set criteria. | The DfE said local authorities had always been able to adapt their funding allocation to meet local needs, as long as they followed a set criteria. |
| "The number of councils applying to do this has remained stable in recent years," it said. | "The number of councils applying to do this has remained stable in recent years," it said. |
| "High needs funding has been protected in real terms over the next two years, and our extra £1.3bn investment for schools and high needs means we are giving local authorities more money for every pupil in every school." | "High needs funding has been protected in real terms over the next two years, and our extra £1.3bn investment for schools and high needs means we are giving local authorities more money for every pupil in every school." |
| Are you affected by the issues in this story? Share your experiences. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you affected by the issues in this story? Share your experiences. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |