Cumberland Council children's services running at £31.8 million deficit due to SEND provision
Members of the authority’s health and wellbeing board will get an update on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision in the council area in April.
Increased demand due to special educational needs and disability (SEND) means that Cumberland Council’s children’s services are running at a £31.803million deficit, it has been revealed.
Members of the authority’s health and wellbeing board are due to meet at Cumbria House in Carlisle on Wednesday, April 8, will get an update on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision in the council area.
According to the report the development of specialist provision across the local area continues to be a priority for all partners. It adds: “The focus for improvement is set out in the SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy and the need for additional provision is detailed in the SEND Sufficiency Plan 2024.”
In relation to the budgets and current challenges the report states that the impact of insufficient specialist places leads to pupils being placed out of authority (OOA).
It adds: “This takes children and young people away from their families, local
communities and often involves lengthy journey times for our most vulnerable children and young people at the beginning and end of each school day.
“OOA placements cost an average of £110,000 per year against a placement within our authority costing on average £27,660. This puts significant additional pressure on our High Needs Block which is already £31.803million in deficit (however this is marginally offset by an underspend on the other blocks within the DSG, reducing the overall deficit to £25.588million.
“Significant transport costs are also incurred with OOA placements, placing further pressure on already insufficient budget allocations verses increase in demand and need.”
The report also outlines updates on several areas of SEND sufficiency including: the current landscape; forecasts and development of specialist provision; and budgets and current challenges.
It is recommended that the board reviews the contents of the report, notes the updates on current progress and the challenges currently faced by the local authority.
The report states: “Our SEND Sufficiency Plan 2024 clearly sets out the continued need for additional specialist places and highlights the gaps that we currently have across Cumberland in relation to geographical location, provision type, age and primary need. This plan is currently being updated and will be republished in March 2026.”
According to the report four new resourced provisions were opened in 2024 delivering 32 additional specialist places including: eight places at Hensingham Primary School; eight places at St Patricks Catholic Primary School; 10 places at Kingmoor Nursery and Infant School; and six places at Ellenborough Academy – Infant School.
The report adds: “We are working towards a target of establishing an additional 100 specialist places before the end of 2026.
“The following additional schemes have already been delivered between September 2025 and October 2025 creating an additional 31 specialist places.”
These included:
19 places at Mayfield Special School (available September 2025);
eight places at James Rennie (available October 2025);
an additional four places at Hensingham Primary School (available September 2025.
According to the report, of the 162 places, 153 are currently occupied which represents a rate of 93.3 per cent and there are three special schools across five sites.
It adds: “There is a total of 533 places within our special schools, 543 children and young people are currently attending.”