Bristol City Council risks financial disaster without a special needs bailout, court hears
Bristol: The city council is in a tough spot. They might face a financial disaster without a special needs bailout. A court recently discussed this issue. The council’s barrister said the bailout doesn’t change support for disabled children.
Joanne Clement KC defended the council’s choice not to consult parents. Last year, they accepted a £53 million bailout from the Department for Education. This was to help with their growing budget deficit.
Parents worried that their kids might get less support. But the council was already planning changes to help children with special educational needs. They aimed to support more kids in mainstream schools instead of costly independent ones.
Ms. Clement argued that the council had consulted parents before on similar issues. During the judicial review, she emphasized that the bailout was a financial matter, not a change in strategy.
Bristol, like many councils, has been spending more on education than it receives from the government. This has created a significant financial gap. The council has been working on a plan to manage this deficit, especially after the bailout deal.
Parents and schools had already been involved in discussions about early intervention and creating new specialist school places. They also focused on making mainstream schools more inclusive.
The bailout allowed the council to use £43 million from its reserves to reduce the schools deficit. They also received £13 million to expand Claremont Special School, adding 70 new places.
Ms. Clement stated that the bailout is about funding, not changing services. The council has already consulted widely and is not cutting existing support.
The judicial review hearing continues, with the judge expected to issue a written judgment in a few weeks. This could impact the council’s financial situation significantly.
Without the bailout, Bristol must balance its schools budget by March. Otherwise, they risk severe budget cuts and potential bankruptcy. The pressure is also mounting on the government to address the national SEND crisis.
