Councillors have accused the government of failing to adequately support Norfolk school children amid fears the county's problems could worsen when private school tax changes are introduced.
Norfolk County Council cabinet members have agreed to top up the amount of funding it provides to schools to support children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) from £30m to £35m.
However, councillors at the Conservative-controlled authority warn that they are struggling to meet the rising costs of SEND in schools and have forecasted that its budget deficit could reach £115m by March next year.
They now worry the new Labour government's proposal to make private schools pay VAT tax could push more children with educational needs into mainstream schools.
This is due to parents no longer being able to afford their child's private education or fears smaller independent schools will shut due to a lack of pupils.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said the policy will generate roughly £1.5bn a year, which Labour plans to invest in state education, including in recruiting more teachers.
'SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE'
Jane James, cabinet member for corporate services, said: "There has not been enough consideration of the wider implications this will have on independent schools that cater for SEND.
"Many are already in a fragile state. If there is a reduction due to parents being unable to afford increased fees, the worst-case scenario is they will close.
"This will add pressure into our mainstream schools and specialist provisions and the consequences of a system clearly facing challenges."
Norfolk County Council has written to government ministers calling for an overhaul of SEND in schools and the way it is funded.
Andrew Jamieson, deputy leader, added: "This is causing a financial cliff edge for many councils.
"[Funding pressures] are leading to responsibility shifting between public bodies, inadvertently creating adversarial relationships between parents, local authorities and schools."
It has recently been revealed that NCC has spent £900,000 on legal fees to defend decisions over school places for children needing SEND support.
This comes amid funding shortages and a lack of spaces for children.
NCC has also spent £120m to create more than 2,000 extra specialist places in newly built special schools.
FUNDING OFF TRACK
Critics appreciate there are funding challenges but say NCC's management of SEND provision has exacerbated problems.
The council signed a "safety valve" agreement with the government in March last year, getting £70m for education services and support for SEND children up until 2029.
The bailout was to cover the deficit the council accrued through providing SEND support to children.
However, the scheme is now "off track" and the council is renegotiating with the Department for Education.
Five multi-academy trusts have also warned that some schools may have to slash budgets by up to £1m due to receiving less money from the 'security valve' than expected.
Mike Smith-Clare, deputy leader of the Labour group a County Hall, said: "Weasel words cannot disguise the failed so-called safety valve agreement was made with government without the involvement of those with lived experience.
"Instead of making time to talk to those who know it and live it, the Conservatives make those families struggle through the process and spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on lawyers fees to deny them what they are entitled to for as long as possible.
"It really is quite appalling."
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