The annual cost of out-of-authority placements for children with special educational needs has broken the 0.5bn barrier despite a significant fall in the number of placements.
Data published by the Department for Education and Skills-funded specialeducational needs regional partnerships reveals the cost of placementshas shot up by 19 per cent since 2003. But the proportion of childrenplaced out-of-authority fell from 88 to 83 per 100,000 people aged under20.
In addition the study found that 84 per cent of the 0.5bn isspent on placing children near secondary schools or post-16 educationthat meets their needs.
Hugh Clench, regional facilitator for special educational needs at SouthCentral Regional Inclusion Partnership, said: "The secondary sectorseems less able to meet a wide variety of needs."
- www.scrip.uk.net.
