Cllr Jonathan Lester, Leader of Herefordshire Council said: "We are deeply disappointed by the Government’s decision to terminate the agreement for a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school in our county. This decision comes despite clear evidence of the urgent need for additional specialist places. The Children’s Services Education department have spent years of tireless work with education providers to find creative solutions to meet need and to ensure we have an inclusive approach in our mainstream education. However, we also have children whose needs can only be met by a more specialist provision.

“While the Government has offered £3.8 million over three years as a top-up to High Needs capital funding, this falls far short of what is required to meet demand and ensure children with SEND receive the education they deserve. Herefordshire has been unable to expand its special school provision for many years, and without significant investment, families will continue to face limited options and increased reliance on costly independent placements. “This is not just a setback for the Council; it is a blow to the children and families of Herefordshire who deserve equitable access to education and support. Our children already receive less funding per head than the national average, and this decision compounds a pattern of disinvestment in our county. Recent changes to the way Government allocates funding to councils are expected to leave Herefordshire with a significant funding gap next year, failing to account for our growing and increasingly complex needs and the rural nature of our communities. The removal of the £7 million Rural Services Delivery Grant this year further ignores the additional costs of delivering services across a rural county.

“We call on the Government to urgently reconsider its approach and to work with councils like ours to deliver fair funding and the infrastructure our children need. Every child in Herefordshire should have the opportunity to thrive, and we will continue to advocate strongly on their behalf.”

Background information

In May 2024, Herefordshire Council announced that the Department for Education had approved plans for a new special free school in the county. The school was intended to provide additional specialist places for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), addressing a long-standing shortage of provision locally. The project was part of a national programme to expand SEND capacity and aimed to reduce reliance on costly independent placements outside the county. On 12 December, DfE cancelled funding for the project.