Posted on Tuesday 10th June 2025
'SEND funding needs resolving at a national level," says Cabinet member Janet Higgins, pictured.
A money-saving contract to educate special educational needs pupils closer to home is set to be approved.
Block-booking the equivalent of 25 full time places at The Haven School in Stafford will save Staffordshire County Council thousands of pounds over the contract.
Janet Higgins, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Education and SEND, said the deal made financial sense in the face of constant demand from the rising number of children requiring specialist help.
She said:
If we were to buy these places for pupils on an individual basis instead, at today’s prices it would cost the council around £18,000 more per child per year.
This contract secures a fixed price for the next four years in the face of rising costs and provides an immediate saving of around £450,000 in the first year.”
In line with the rest of the country, demand for special needs education has been rising since 2014, following a change in eligibility rules.
County councils must make provision available to meet a young person’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as detailed in their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
In March 2025 there were 8,604 Staffordshire children and young people with EHCPs, a 15 per cent increase in 14 months.
And increasing demand is placing greater pressure on school places.
Janet Higgins added:
The Council is doing all it can to support children and their families.
However, funding for SEND education is a national issue and the money Staffordshire has received from Government in the last 10 years is far, far less than is needed to meet demand.”
A report to be discussed at Cabinet next week says that since its opening in 2016, The Haven School has specialised in supporting children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Consistently rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, the Council has used the school regularly before, while feedback from parents and carers of pupils is very positive.