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Suffolk will get over £9.4 million in government funding to create hundreds of new school places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Why it matters: The funding will help Suffolk keep pace with the growing demand for specialist education provision, building on efforts that Suffolk County Council says have already created over 1,000 new places in the past five years.
The details: The Department for Education announced the £9,441,348 allocation on Thursday as part of its High Needs Provision Capital Allocation scheme.
The money will be used to develop new SEND school places across the county, with specific plans to be drawn up by the Local Area SEND Partnership.
Andrew Reid, Cabinet member for Education and SEND at Suffolk County Council, said: "This investment is a welcome addition for Suffolk's children and young people, and their families."
"In the last five years, we have agreed 1,025 new specialist places. However, our analysis tells us we must continue to invest in new places to keep up with demand. This new funding will support that growth."
The bigger picture: The funding comes alongside existing plans to create 200 new SEND places that will be discussed by Suffolk County Council's cabinet on Tuesday.
County council plans 200 new SEND places as demand grows by 40% in five years
Suffolk County Council's cabinet will review proposals for 200 new specialist education places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Suffolk's allocation is part of a larger £126.6 million package for the East of England region, which is expected to fund approximately 1,000 places for children with SEND across the area.
What's next: Officials will use the recently published Joint SEND Needs Assessment Report to create a Joint SEND Sufficiency Plan that will determine how the new funding should be spent.
For context: The Local Area Partnership, which will oversee the spending plans, includes Suffolk County Council, the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB, the Suffolk Parent Carer Forum and education settings.
The bottom line: As demand for SEND places continues to grow in Suffolk, this £9.4 million allocation will help local authorities develop some of the additional capacity needed to support children with special educational needs.
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