Fair funding for children with SEND was raised once again with MPs this week at the House of Commons.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, East Riding of Yorkshire Council cabinet member for children, families and education, joined local MPs, Graham Stuart and Charlie Dewhirst, and f40 colleagues hosting a drop-in for MPs to highlight the need for fair investment in education. f40 is a group of local authorities that receives the lowest levels of funding per pupil.
Councillor Aitken said: “We are standing up for something that really matters to families and schools in East Riding – fair funding for education, and especially for children with SEND. Right now, the way schools are funded isn’t fair; children in East Riding are receiving less support than those in other parts of the country.
“We are once again lobbying MPs to raise awareness and push for a fairer funding formula, to give every child the support they need and deserve, no matter where they live or what challenges they face. We want government to be bold and brave with education reforms.”
East Riding receives £9 million less in funding than the England average for mainstream education, and £18 million less than the average for SEND funding.
Councillor Aitken continued: “The funding formula is outdated and based on historic projections, and it is no longer for today’s needs. Education is the foundation of a successful country and a growing economy; we must invest more in our children and young people.”
