Council warns of £171m shortfall in SEND funding

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council) has sounded the alarm about a rapidly rising deficit.

It is tied to the funding block that supports children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

By the end of this financial year, in March 2026, BCP forecast that the accumulated deficit on the Dedicated Schools Grant will reach £171 million.

This is called the Mounting Deficit.

Additionally, the council anticipates it will need to borrow about £57.5 million in 2025/26 to cover costs above the government grant.

To help manage costs, BCP wants more children with SEND to be taught in mainstream classrooms.

The councils’s SEND Improvement Plan says schools should offer better support locally so fewer children need specialist placements.

School leaders support the ambition but fear the money and staff needed to make this work are not in place.

Mainstream teachers are already dealing with larger classes, recruitment struggles and high levels of need.

Without extra resources, the plan could overwhelm schools instead of help them.

It could put added strain on classroom staff, special educational needs coordinators (SENCO) and support services.

Laura Overton, SEND Leader at Talbot Park Nursery, expressed her concern for young children preparing to transition into specialist settings.

She said: “With BCP’s SEND funding stretched this thin, children who need specialist schools may never reach them.

This is not because they can’t thrive there, but because the budget won’t let them.”

A parent/carer survey shows that back in 2023 only one third of parents in BCP felt their child was getting the support they need.

With less funding, children who need specialist support, may miss out.

Laura Overton added: “Some parents already say they are waiting months for assessments to understand their children’s needs.”

Delaying them doesn’t just postpone the support, it postpones the ability to shape a child’s whole educational journey and future ahead.”

The mounting deficit puts BCP Council on a dangerous financial edge.

Without significant additional funding or cost control, the situation risks requiring emergency measures under the local government funding scheme.

Urgent strategic planning and engagement with central government may be required to stabilise the council’s finances and mitigate long-term risks.

 

Data can be found on BCP website + democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk^