The government funding could help ease council pressures when providing SEND support.

A new council plan could see Barnsley Council receive £15.6 million in government funding to improve special educational needs and disabilities support in the borough.

Earlier this year, the council achieved the highest possible outcome in its special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), recognising strong partnership working across services.

The SEND Reform Plan has been developed by Barnsley Council to respond to the various challenges in the system, setting out how it will manage rising demand, improving outcomes, and creating a more inclusive system.

The plan focuses on giving help earlier, supporting more children in mainstream schools and colleges, and improving how services work collaboratively. Another aim is to help build confidence for families and reduce complaints.

The proposed plan will allow the council to access the government’s High Needs Stability Grant, which is critical to managing the current pressure on the High Needs budget for Barnsley.

At the end of March 2026, this budget had an accumulative deficit of £19.3m, with an expected further deficit of £13.4m in 2026/27, and of £14.6m in 2027/28.

If the plan is approved by the Department for Education (DfE), they will fund up to 80% of the high needs deficit for SEND support in the borough, equating to £15.6 million.

However, the remaining £3.7m deficit would fall onto the council to fund.

There is an understanding that the government will fund a proportion of the future years’ deficit, but this cannot be guaranteed as there is currently no published information on how future years will be addressed.

An important part of the council’s plan is the use of the Experts at Hand (EAH) government grant allocation, which will provide three years of funding, although council allocations are yet to be confirmed.

The council will invest £1.86m in 2026/27 through the EAH programme, helping to strengthen early intervention and support, and provide greater access to specialist advice.

Councillor Vicky Jackson, Cabinet Support Member for Children’s Services, said: “We know that for many families, getting the right support at the right time can make all the difference.

“This plan sets out how we’ll work together with our partners to strengthen early help, improve inclusion, and make sure children and young people with SEND in Barnsley have every opportunity to achieve and thrive.

“Importantly, it builds on the strong foundations we already have in Barnsley, and our shared ambition to create a system that works better for families, now and in the future.”

Whilst changes in this new reform plan should help over time, the council is still expecting demand to increase in the short term.

Based on current trends, the demand for SEND support is continuing to rise, with the number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in Barnsley expected to increase from 3,378 in 2025 to 4,623 by 2029.

Requests for EHCP assessments are also expected to rise from 783 to 1,049.

Data shows that needs are becoming increasingly complex, with increases expected in autism, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs.

Barnsley Council said: “At the heart of the reforms is a clear ambition: to ensure every child and young person with SEND in Barnsley can access the right support at the right time and achieve their full potential.”