“"This is a significant moment for Devon and a strong vote of confidence in the improvement journey we have been on. It has been a long road to get to this stage and there have been difficult days alongside the successes. Throughout that journey, our focus has remained firmly on improving support and outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families. Government’s approval of our reform plan recognises the hard work and commitment of staff, schools, health partners, parent carers and everyone involved in driving improvement across Devon. It recognises we have developed a strong plan for improvement and are making progress in the right direction. Our partnership with government has been an important part of that journey. We have welcomed both the support and challenge we have received and appreciate the confidence ministers have shown in our plans. While this announcement is very welcome, we know there is more to do. We are only part of the way along the improvement road but this is telling us clearly that we are going in the right direction – we have done a huge amount to get the foundations strong so now we need to pick up the pace. Approval of the plan is an important milestone, but we must now continue to demonstrate successful delivery and tangible improvements for children, young people and families. Demand for SEND services continues to grow nationally and sustained government investment in schools, health partners and early years services, combined with curriculum restructuring and Ofsted judging schools by their ability to be inclusive, will be essential if local areas are to continue improving support over the long term."
Devon County Council Receives Government Confidence and £191m Grant for SEND Reform
The Department for Education approves the council's plan to improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, addressing historic overspend.
By Imogen Drake
••3 min read
AI
Official government document related to SEND reform funding.
Devon County Council has received a significant vote of confidence from the Government, with its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform plan approved and an indicative £191 million grant allocated to address past overspending.
The Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the collaborative progress made by education, health, and local government partners in developing a unified strategy to enhance support for children and young people with SEND. This approval makes Devon County Council eligible for a High Needs Stability Grant, which will cover 90 per cent of its Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit accumulated up to the end of the 2025-26 financial year. The indicative allocation for this grant is £191.3 million, pending final confirmation.
This grant specifically addresses historic expenditure and the associated financing costs of Devon’s DSG deficit, and is not intended as new funding for current SEND services or other council expenditures. Ministers highlighted that the approval reflects the commitment of Devon’s local area partnership to reform and provides a solid foundation for the delivery phase of its improvement programme.
Councillor James Buczkowski, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Public Value, commented on the potential financial benefits of the announcement. He stated that the grant addresses historic SEND expenditure and the financial pressures of carrying and financing the DSG deficit, clarifying that it is not new funding for services. The grant would cover 90 per cent of the accumulated DSG deficit up to the end of the 2025-26 financial year, potentially easing financial burdens from past spending. He added that the council is assessing the detailed implications and, while early to quantify, anticipates a significant positive impact on the council’s financial position by reducing deficit financing costs. He welcomed the Government's recognition of the partnership's work and expressed eagerness to continue the improvement journey.
Based on information from the official source: Devon County Council (05/10/2026)
