Diss High School headteacher challenges Norfolk County Council on funding cuts for SEND pupils

A headteacher has called for a rethink on cuts to funding for children with special needs and disabilities.

Sam Stopps, headteacher at Diss High School, has joined forces with other school leaders to challenge Norfolk County Council over plans to reduce how much money its spends – known as top-up funding – to support SEND pupils in mainstream schools.

In a letter to parents and carers, Mr Stopps wrote: “We are deeply concerned about this decision and the impact that it could have on our school community.

“We believe that every child has the right to access the best possible education, regardless of their needs or abilities. This is why we are not accepting this decision lightly.

“Along with other schools and trusts in the area, we are challenging the local authority to reconsider its plans and to ensure that it fulfills its legal obligations to provide adequate funding for SEND provision. We are also working with local politicians and campaigners to raise awareness of this issue.

“While we await any final outcome, we want to reassure you that we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure the very best service that we can offer to our children with SEND.

“We have a dedicated and experienced team of staff who are committed to meeting the needs of every child in our school.

“We will also continue to work closely with you, as parents and carers, to keep you informed of any developments and to seek your views and feedback on how we can improve our provision.

“We appreciate your support and understanding during this challenging time.”

Norfolk County Council said it has made a “deliberate and very substantial additional investment” in its top-up budget over the past three years.

A spokesman said that, in the last year, the number of applications from schools for this funding exceeded all previous rates of referral and led to a total allocation of around £36 million, representing an overspend of more than £12 million, which it needs to address.