Isle Of Wight Council Faces £12.6m High Needs Education Overspend

Concerns have been raised over a predicted £12.62 million overspend on high needs education for children and young people on the Isle of Wight.

The figure was discussed at a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council's audit and governance committee on Monday (28 September).

The high needs block of the government's Dedicated Schools Grant helps councils fund specialist education and alternative provision for children and young people with additional needs.

A council report says there continues to be a high number of requests for Education, Health and Care Plan assessments, while there is a shortage of specialist school places on the Island.

It says the increase in assessments is also contributing to higher home-to-school transport costs for children with special educational needs or disabilities.

The council's lack of its own educational psychology service is also adding to costs, according to the report.

All for Islanders group leader Councillor Chris Jarman questioned what would happen if the government did not ultimately cover the growing deficit.

The council's interim director of finance, Adam Richens, said local authorities are waiting to see whether the government will cover around 90 per cent of accumulated Dedicated Schools Grant deficits.

He said the council had set aside resources and developed a strategy to cover its expected contribution.

The projected £12.62 million in-year overspend would take the accumulated deficit to around £30 million.