[senco-forum] Keeping costs down

Fuel costs originally came up in the context of the overall cost of running
SEN Peripatetic Services. In rural counties, with significant distances
between schools this is having a significant impact on their ability to fund
support and services to schools.

When Central Government dictates what services must be supplied, and decides
the maximum that local Council taxes can rise by, whilst continually pushing
through increases in fuel duty the ability of local authorities to manouvre
is limited.  Here, in Wakefield they have to find £29M of cost savings to
stay within next year's expenditure limits across all services.

Are other Children's service/Education Services finding themselves under
similar pressure?  

I was in East Riding today where they have gone for a Federation system of
organising schools so a Headteacher may be appointed to be responsible for
more than one school. This has so far avoided the need for school closures
and amalgamations.  

Today's Independent carried an article about Herefordshire villages fighting
to keep their schools open as the lifeblood of their community.   

Are there more examples of school/authority budgets being applied
differently, particularly in relation to SEN?

Yours

Colin

SEN M