09-16-2006, 11:30 AM
09-16-2006, 12:10 PM
The above article claimed that...
Quote:
"There had been major increases in education funding and local authorities' budgeted expenditure on special needs had also increased, from £2.8bn in 2001-02 to £4.1bn in 2005-06, with more to come, the spokesman said."
I was interested to know what that money was being spent on. So I went looking. I couldn't quickly find any breakdown of spending, even in Hansard. I did find a BBC report from July 06, which said...
Quote:
"The number of children with statements of special needs in England's schools has fallen to a five-year low. But there has been an increase in the number and proportion of children who have learning difficulties but no statement of special needs. Campaigners say many councils are unwilling to "statement" pupils because of the legal entitlement and possible extra costs that brings."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4727851.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4727851.stm
So I wonder why LEA's are apparently worried about "Possible extra costs", when they apparently now have an extra £1.3-billion per year to spend on special needs kids?
Unless, of course, the quote should actually have read...
Quote:
"There had been major increases in education funding, and [as a very minor part of that education spending, UK] local authorities' budgeted expenditure on special needs had also increased, from £2.8bn in 2001-02 to £4.1bn in 2005-06, with more to come, the spokesman said."
Typical Labour spin at work here, I'd say.