MP's back Council calls for education funding review

MP's across Wiltshire are joining calls for a review of how education funding is allocated in England.

Wiltshire Council wants the formula for funding to be revisited, saying it receives 36% less cash per pupil than the highest funded local authority. That figure almost doubles for SEND students, with the council 70% down on the authority with the highest funding allocation.

The Council is part of f40 group, a collection of local governments among the lowest funded for education in the country.

It's an issue local MPs say has been causing problems for a significant period of time, and they've vowed to continue pressing central Government for change.

Nobody winning with current formula

Sarah Gibson, who represents Chippenham, Calne, Corsham, Lyneham and Royal Wootton Bassett, says children in Wiltshire are being "short-changed" by the current formula.

"Like many rural areas, our education funding, just like transport, health and council funding, is consistently lower than for our city counterparts, even though our costs are often higher," the Liberal Democrat said.

She's adamant that funding for education should be based on need, rather than be a postcode lottery.

"When schools and SEND aren’t properly funded, families are pushed into crisis and councils into unsustainable deficits, and that helps no one," she said.

Change needed, but responsible spending also required

Conservative John Glen said the gap in per pupil funding has been a "challenge for leadership at County Hall for many years".

The Salisbury MP explained that it's why the previous Tory administration took a prudent approach to it's management of the budget in order to push for the best outcomes for children in Wiltshire.

He said he agrees with the need for a change in the formula, but stressed the current Lib Dem leadership needs to be spending wisely.

Mr Glen said: "I urge the new leadership at County Hall to focus on fiscally sound management, to ensure we maintain the resilient budget the Conservatives oversaw that protected our vital services."

He added that people in Wiltshire should be concerned that the current leadership is set to have an overspend "into the millions" and are "raiding the reserves to meet everyday spending costs".

In response, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Cllr Jon Hubbard, said the council budget was already at a significant deficit when the Liberal Democrat leadership came into power.

He said: "When the new administration took office, we inherited a council budget already carrying a £4.5 million deficit, an inadequate budget for the current financial year, and reserves that had been significantly depleted, leaving very limited capacity to deal with unexpected pressures.

"Since then, teams across the council have worked tirelessly to stabilise the financial position, manage rising demand and inflation, and ensure services continue to deliver for residents. As a result of that work, the council is now forecasting a small surplus at year-end."

SEND services in dire need of support

MP for Melksham and Devizes, Dr Brian Mathew, says school funding is something he's been working on for a while, with a particular focus on support for SEND services.

He said the current model means children in Wiltshire are far less likely to get the right amount of support than children in urban areas.

"We are seeing a real crisis in SEND support services. I regularly receive cases of desperate parents trying to get the support their children need to thrive in school," he said.

He called the current situation a "postcode lottery" that is leaving rural SEND provision without the resources it needs to deliver effective services, even though it often costs more to provide such services in rural areas.

Dr Roz Savage, who represents the South Cotswolds, also says she's seen many families facing challenges to access SEND support.

"Their experiences make it clear that chronic underfunding sits at the heart of the problem," she said.

Dr Savage added that the funding gap isn't "abstract", insisting children, parents and school staff feel it every day and that it "simply isn't fair".

White paper an opportunity for change

All three MPs have vowed to keep battling to get our children a fairer deal, with the upcoming Schools and SEND White Paper representing a chance for Wiltshire to get the change it needs.

Ms Gibson said: "The Government has to get this right. Rural children should never be treated as an afterthought. They deserve the same chances as children anywhere in the country, and I’ll keep pressing until that happens."

Dr Mathew said: "I will continue to push for children in Wiltshire to receive the support they need. The Schools and SEND White Paper presents a real opportunity to get the change Wiltshire needs."

Mr Glen said: "I have challenged the Government to rethink its Local Authority funding and I will keep pressing for a fairer deal for my constituents."

Dr Savage said: "With a Schools and SEND White Paper on the way, the Government has a real chance, and a clear responsibility, to put this right. Rural children should never be treated as an afterthought, and I will continue to make that case in Westminster and the South Cotswolds."

Reform UK's Danny Kruger, who represents East Wiltshire says he is also in support of the Council's call for a review of the funding formula.

We've asked the Department for Education to comment.

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