In a written statement yesterday the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning attempted to plot a way forward for funding post-16 learners in special schools and further education. He stated that:
The final allocation for post-16 learners in special schools and out of county placements for 2009-10 is £20.2m. This represents funding in full the final estimates of local authorities for this year. For 2010-11, initial allocations will total £20.49m. This equates to 85% of local authorities’ initial estimates, an increase of 16% over the 69% originally announced.
These allocations mean that funding for special schools post-16 and out of county placements will have more than doubled since 2003. Clearly this rate of growth is unsustainable. I therefore intend to set up a Task and Finish Group with the remit of putting forward a new coherent process for funding the transition of young people with additional learning needs from pre-to post-16 education.
What is not clear however is whether this refers to Further Education Institutions, who have been particularly badly hit by Labour-Plaid Cymru cuts in funding for Additional Learning Needs. The title of the statement says it is about FEIs, but the text mentions only special schools, out of county provision and local authorities’ Special Educational Needs funding. Will further education also be getting 85% of their needs covered or will they have to make up the difference from 69% as previously thought?
Commenting on the statement Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Education Minister, Jenny Randerson said:
“While Government funding of 85% of the total needed for SEN students is better than the original promise of 69%, it still provides a significant shortfall in money.
“This does nothing to help students with additional learning needs to meet their potential within further education, and therefore will not end the hurt that this situation is causing them and their families.”
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