Release date: 17 July 2025
West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning has responded vehemently to a letter published by MP Dr Beccy Cooper regarding special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision.
Councillor Jacquie Russell’s response follows her address to members of the Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Committee, as well as an appearance by the Cabinet Member on a BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour, regarding the increasing financial pressures on local councils across the country for SEND Provision.
Cllr Russell said: “I am proud of what this council has achieved when the financial pressures on us are enormous and continue to grow. I have said publicly on many occasions, that this is an issue that has not been addressed by successive governments and have called upon MPs from all parties in West Sussex to help lobby for more funding.
“The letter I have received, which Dr Cooper felt the need to make public, shows an astounding lack of understanding of the issue and my response, all six pages of it, details the issues we face and the support we need. I implore Dr Cooper to help us in lobbying the Government for more funding which is desperately needed to help us support our young people to give them the best start in life.
“This is not about political gamesmanship. It is about doing what is best for our young people. My response lays out clearly where the issues are and what we are facing. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with Dr Cooper to discuss ways in which she could work with the County Council in all that they are doing to prioritise our most vulnerable children.
“We are seeing a major deficit in what funding our children receive per head compared to other local authorities and this imbalance needs to be addressed. If Dr Cooper can use her influence in anyway to help support us in this then I very much welcome it.”
Notes to editors:
The following is the response to Dr Cooper’s Letter in full:
Dear Dr Cooper,
Thank you for your letter dated 2nd July 2025 concerning my comments reported in a recent BBC article, with respect to the challenges around SEND funding and provision in West Sussex.
It is unfortunate that you chose to correspond with me through what is, quite frankly, one of the most impolite and ill-informed communications I have received in my time as Cabinet Member from a serving MP. It is particularly breathtaking, when you consider that prior to becoming an MP, you were in fact a member of this council at a time when demand was already outstripping funding provided and provision available, so I would have expected you to have at least had a broad understanding of the local authority position even if you were lacking in the detail.
As a local MP, had you taken the time to engage in constructive dialogue with myself and the local authority, over what is in fact a national issue and not a local one, I could have fully informed you of the local position against the backdrop of the national picture, which is facing a current cumulative deficit figure of circa £5bn by March 2026. Instead, you have chosen to take issue with the wording of a headline - that aptly describes the situation locally - and used that wording to both politicise and localise what is in fact - even by your own government’s admission - a broken system that requires urgent review.
I am keen to ensure as a local MP, that you are well informed and up to speed on this matter, so I thought I would take the opportunity to dispel the multiple inaccuracies contained within your letter and replace them with the facts of the matter.
Government Funding
Whilst I can see how locally it would be politically expedient for you to blame the previous government with respect to cuts to funding, I’m afraid this is not backed up by the facts, which are clearly illustrated within the contents of this letter. Furthermore I feel I should also point out that over the last 6 years in my role as Cabinet Member, I have worked hard to promote a constructive, cross party, collaborative environment amongst my county council colleagues, removing politics without compromising constructive challenge, preferring to engage, inform and build a consensus within the Council to support the ongoing investment the Council has made into SEND and other parts of the service, whilst ensuring it is a corporate priority to deliver the very best outcomes for our children and young people.
I thought I would begin by illustrating to you the levels of funding received from central government between 2019 and 2024 and the impact on local authority finances as a result of increasing demand;
DSG High Needs Block Funding
In 18/19, the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) High Needs Block was in surplus to the tune of 6.8m.
19/20 – High Needs government funding increased by 1.2m on the previous year, but increased demand saw the authority slip into deficit by 1.4m.
20/21 - High Needs government funding increased by 8.2m on the previous year, but continuing increasing demand saw the cumulative deficit increase to 10.7m
21/22 - High Needs government funding increased by 7.3m on the previous year, with the cumulative deficit continuing to increase to 24.9m
22/23 - High Needs government funding increased by 12.2m on the previous year with the cumulative deficit increasing to 41.8m
23/24 - High Needs government funding increased by 12.1m on the previous year, with the cumulative deficit increasing to 70.535m
24/25 – High Needs government funding increased by 5.2m, with the cumulative deficit increasing to 123.2m
Whilst West Sussex’s annual High Needs DSG funding increased by 59% across the above accounting period, the local authority spend increased by 121% over the same period due to the overwhelming increase in demand.
To put that into some perspective; In 2015 the number of children with an EHCP in West Sussex stood at 3423. At the end of 24/25 they stood at 9573 and they continue to increase.
Local Authority Deficits
With respect to local authority deficits, the government recently extended the statutory override period until March 27/28. This is concerning, as the cumulative deficit figure will continue to accrue in the absence of any reforms to the current system hence the need for an urgent review.
Local Authority Transport Costs
As a result of the overwhelming SEND demand, the cost of SEND transport has also increased over this period by 133% from 12m in 2018/19 to 28m in 24/25, with SEND passenger numbers increasing by 50% from 1773 to 2668.
National Audit Office
For the avoidance of any doubt, the National Audit Office published its findings in October 2024 and reported back then that:
- “Since 2015, the demand for EHC plans has increased by 140% leading to 576,000 children with plans in 2024. There has also been a 14% increase in the number of those with SEN support to 1.14m pupils in school. These changes have increased the cost of the SEN system.
- Although the DfE has increased high-needs funding, with a 58% real-terms increase between 2014-15 and 2024-25 to £10.7 billion, the system is still not delivering better outcomes for children and young people or preventing local authorities from facing significant financial risks.
- DfE estimates that some 43% of local authorities will have deficits exceeding or close to their reserves in March 2026. This contributes to a cumulative deficit of between £4.3 billion and £4.9 billion when accounting arrangements that stop these deficits impacting local authority reserves are due to end. As such, the current system is not achieving value for money and is unsustainable”
Therefore, with respect to your ‘polite suggestion’ that ‘this is a crisis of your and West Sussex County Council’s own making, by supporting year after year of Conservative government cuts’, the facts outlined above demonstrate this is clearly not the case.
In fact, the most recent funding increase given to the local authority by our newly elected government represents an approximate 57% reduction of funding on the previous year’s increase given by the outgoing government and is the lowest annual increase given to West Sussex in the last 5 years, during a time period where the data clearly illustrates that we have seen the sharpest increases in demand.
F40 Lobby Group
Funding is one of the key issues that needs addressing as part of the review around SEND where the variation between authorities is stark.
West Sussex County Council are members of F40 - a lobby group representing the 40 lowest funded authorities in England with respect to SEND and the National Funding Formula. Shortly after the general election last summer, F40 wrote to all newly elected MPs, inviting them to a briefing in Parliament last October. Having looked at the list of attendees it would appear that you did not attend on this occasion.
F40 also wrote more recently to all MPs offering them the chance to attend either a drop-in session or evening briefing on 1st July 2025 at Portcullis House. I also personally wrote to you and other MPs across West Sussex on the 19th June 2025, asking if you would attend one of the briefings.
Despite receiving a response from your office that you would do your best to attend the drop-in session, having reviewed the list of attendees, it would seem that you didn’t attend that session either which is disappointing, considering you mention the efforts you have gone to with respect to meeting local schools to discuss this matter where you acknowledge they are crying out for support.
Data published by F40 with respect to funding allocations per pupil with SEND for the financial year 2025/26 illustrates the significant variation between small unitary authorities like Brighton and Hove and the London Borough of Camden, compared to large shires like West Sussex.
For 2025/26 West Sussex received a funding allocation of £1,244.86 per pupil; Brighton and Hove received £1,455.73 per pupil; London Borough of Camden - the highest funded authority in England - received a funding allocation of £3,564.95 per pupil. This stark variation in funding allocations is astounding and begs the question as to how it can be considered fair to give a SEND child in West Sussex, circa 15% less funding than a child in Brighton and Hove and 65% less funding than a child in Camden. The funding allocation system is based on outdated and inappropriate historic needs data, is grossly unjust and needs urgent review by the government and as one of our local MPs, I would expect you to be highlighting this without delay.
Data
Education Health and Care Needs Assessments
The latest national SEN2 data indicates that the percentage rise for requests for Education Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs) in West Sussex, is over double the rise seen in England, the South East and across our statistical neighbours with the highest rise between 2023 and 2024.
The percentage overall increase in requests between 2019 and 2024 for West Sussex is 209.5%, compared to England at 87.6%, the South-East 68.5% and Statistical Neighbours 97.8%.
Requests for assessment in West Sussex in 2024 have increased 25.8% since 2023 compared to England 11.8%, the South East 8.2% and Statistical Neighbours 12.1%.
61.8% of requests for assessment in West Sussex received an outcome of “agree to assess” in 2024– a 2.3% increase on 2023. Conversely in England and the South-East percentages fell.
Education Health and Care Plans
Between 2019 and 2024 West Sussex has seen a 75% increase in open Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
The data as calculated at Census Day (16Th January 2025) illustrates that for the period Jan to Dec 2024, West Sussex saw a 21% increase in the number of finalised EHCPs compared to Jan to Dec 2023, with the number of finalised EHCPs calculated on Census Day recorded as 9301, which - as mentioned previously - increased to 9573 as at March 2024/25.
Since 2023, the authority has seen a 135% increase in the number of new EHCPs.
The percentage EHCPs issued within the statutory timeline of 20 weeks has improved by 7.8% throughout 2024 compared to 2023.
With reference to my comments made in the committee meeting about ‘having lost count of the amount of times I have raised these concerns’ - which contrary to your view are not ‘new founded concerns’, all I can say again is that it’s unfortunate that you chose to rely on a summary article written by a local reporter published by the BBC, rather than take the time to listen to the actual summing up in the committee meeting where I was in fact being directly critical of local MPs from the previous government with respect to their lack of action in terms of a review of the reforms and participation in a debate hosted by F40 during their tenure, as opposed to chastising newly elected MPs. That said, in your first year as an MP, you have been approached three times – twice by F40 of which the authority is a member directly and once most recently by myself. I am mystified as to why you would think I would write to you as a Leader of a Borough council whose position carries no influence or statutory duty in this area.
SEND Provision
I am pleased to see that you have taken the time to visit some of our schools and colleges to hear their views. Whilst there are a number of local authority projects in train, you will no doubt appreciate resources are extremely limited. When you consider that the fairly recent decision to create a provision at The Pines in Worthing has a current cost estimate of £9.9m with a 2025/26 capital funding allocation from the DfE at £12m, it is quite clear that this is nowhere near enough to accommodate the tidal wave of demand for provision across the county and is in reality a drop in the ocean.
I am also pleased that you have raised the issue of timelines for projects that affect the Worthing area; During the last parliament, West Sussex were successful in securing their bid for a SEND free school in the Worthing area and an alternative provision facility in the Crawley area. Unfortunately, shortly after the new government were elected to office, they decided to pause the free school programme as they wished to review the list. Suffice to say this decision to pause the programme has significantly impacted West Sussex with respect to its ability to increase local provision for our children with SEND. Furthermore, whilst we understood that this review would conclude in January 2025, we have now been advised by the DfE that this is not likely to conclude until the Autumn of 2025, more than a year after it was paused. Given this particularly impacts the Worthing area, it would be helpful to us if you could raise this issue directly with the DfE as a matter of urgency.
Devolution/Local Government Reform
I note with interest your expectations with respect to Devolution and Local Government Reform which mainly appear to centre around ‘removing WSCC as a tier of local government’.
I’m sure you are aware that Devolution and Local Government Reform are two completely different things. The former being the creation of a Mayoral Strategic Combined Authority, the responsibilities of which do not include any involvement with Children’s Services. The latter will involve the combined dissolution of the 7 Districts and Boroughs and the County Council into one or more unitary authorities to deliver day to day services.
Whilst we can agree that the streamlining of the two tiers of local government into one can only be of benefit to local residents on many levels – it will ultimately make no difference to the continuing pressures around SEND support and provision, unless significant change is made to the current system very soon. Hence the plea from all local authorities for an urgent review of the 2014 Reforms to the SEND Code of Practice which I am pleased to note that the government has committed itself to do.
However, they need to follow through on their commitments and deliver these reforms swiftly as the current system is not financially sustainable, is intensely adversarial and does not deliver the best outcomes for our most vulnerable children who ultimately are at the heart of all we do here in West Sussex.
I trust this clarifies the position.
Yours sincerely,
Jacquie Russell
Cabinet Member, Children, Young People and Learning
West Sussex County Council
