Barnsley Council approves £900,000 to support children with special needs within borough

It was approved during the council's first virtual meeting.

There is currently no specialist post-16 provision in the area for young people with social emotional and mental health or autism needs. This new funding will allow the council to commission a local provider.

Coun Sir Stephen Houghton, council leader , said: "It's a good news story, particularly in the current climate we are in."

Coun Margaret Bruff, cabinet member for children, said: "Thanks for all the work that has gone into this. It is a good news story and with more numbers coming up I'm sure that we will be a case of putting people straight into the place they need to be. It's the right place for them to be at the right time."

The funding will be released at £30,000 a year for three years and come from the High Needs Block funding.

It will support a minimum of 20 post-16 pupils with autism or extra mental health needs.

Council officers said there is a risk if places are not filled that it would be paying for vacant spots. However, the number of young people diagnosed with mental health issues or autism has grown year on year and is forecast to continue.

Officers also reported that out of the 415 young people accessing specialist provision in the borough, 45.5 per cent have a primary need of mental health or autism.

Over the past year, young people with these needs had to access expensive support outside the borough, which the council said cost on average £43,604 per person.

This new in-borough provision will equate to £15,000 per pupil.

Coun Tim Cheetham, cabinet member for regeneration and culture, said: "It is a tremendous saving, I know we've talked a lot about this over the years, it's been a perennial issue for us, but it will be a really big step forward for us to have a commissioned service here in town and it also gives us something to build on.

"When we are running a service we can tailor that service to our specific needs."

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