Yes it is. But as you can see below other, larger, cuts are being considered.
Some highlights include:
As has previously been reported in considerable depth to Forum, the County is facing considerable demographic pressures with regards to the rising numbers of children and young people presenting with more severe and complex needs, particularly on the autism spectrum (ASD), BESD and with speech language and communication difficulties (SLCN).
Without intervention, the county will be unable to meet the rising need for this group of young people to progress in the kind of local learning environment which will best meet their learning requirements, is fit for purpose, and which parents and carers are asking for. Moreover, the lack of local provision is likely to result in further expenditure on costly placements in the independent and non-maintained sector.
? The current trends in the identification of SEND within the county indicate an increasing pressure on the available high needs provision in county. Without a strategy to align provision with future needs, the county will be unable to meet the rising need for children and young people with SEND to progress in the kind of local learning environment which will best meet their learning requirements, is fit for purpose, and which parents and carers are asking for.
? We have legislative obligations to meet (in particular the Raising of the Participation Age (RPA) and the SEND reforms) which require us to undertake forward planning on the extent and range of our provision.
? Independent and non-maintained placements are costly and long-term local solutions could at least relieve pressure on the High Needs Funding block and at best, realise significant financial savings.
We are currently profiling and assessing the needs of the 236 learners being educated in non -county provision, to ascertain the potential for any of this cohort to be able to access provision in county. The progression of the local offer added to reasonable adjustments being made to learner support plans, may enable a number of learners to return to the county for future education. This proposal is not driven by finance, but one that is in the best interests of learners to return to their localities and social groups as soon as is feasibly possible, rather than deferring the problem.
The High Needs Block is looking at a forecasted overspend in 2014-15. Currently the level of overspend is forecast at between £2.5m - £3.5m. The main areas of concern are:
? Out of County Placements - £1.4m overspend
? Top Up payments - £1.8m overspend
? Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) - £0.6m overspend
Savings / redeployment of funding that needs to be considered in the short term include:
? £1.8m (current forecast overspend) capping top ups paid to schools including Post 16.
? £0.65m removal of mainstream band 1
? £0.68m by stopping residential provision at 2 of our Special Schools
? £0.25m due to under occupancy in Specialist Support Centres (SSCs)
? £0.3m by applying Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) to Special Schools, PRUs and Specialist Units
? £0.07m with the introduction of a new SLA for PRUs
? £0.03m by removing top up funding for Specialist Units