AoC response to SEND funding announcement

Responding to today’s announcements from the Department for Education on funding allocations for SEND, David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges said:

“Today’s funding announcements show that special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform will properly include colleges. Young people do not stop deserving good quality estates when they leave school and go to college, so it is good news that there is now a much stronger steer towards colleges being included in capital spending plans.

“I’m pleased to see more money going to colleges to support students with SEND but without high needs. That’s something we have been asking for, so the £83 million of Inclusive Mainstream Funding is an important step in the right direction. It will put more SEND funding into colleges’ core budgets, so it can be spent on what will support students best. A fairer deal on SEND capital and better funding for mainstream SEND students are two system changes colleges will be pleased to see.”