Private school pupils to receive county council support

By Steph Johnson

Last updated 12:46, Friday, 05 September 2008

Children in private schools will have special educational needs paid for by Cumbria County Council.

The decision was sparked by fee paying parents who said it was unfair that their children were not treated the same as those in state schools.

Last year £55,755 of local authority money was spent on privately educated youngsters with special needs such as learning difficulties and speech problems.

Now the county council has decided to make the arrangement official.

A report agreed by cabinet members this week stated: “Special educational needs can be an emotive area. The existence of a clear policy, consistently applied, will help support difficult decisions.”

Chief executive Peter Stybelski ordered a review of special educational needs provision after parents criticised an “inequality” in the support given to private schools.

The investigation found there was no legal requirement to help.

However equalities officers advised failure to do so was “potentially discriminating”.

The aid given to the private schools will be limited to £55,755 and take the form of advice, including teaching support, and equipment.

The Government gives the county council grants to pay for special needs provision.

But the funding is based on the number of special needs children who attend mainstream schools. The Government does not pay out for those in private schools.

According to the county council report many parents who pay for private education think they should get assistance from the authority.

Officers, however, argue that this is not the case.

The report stated: “The reality is that by placing their children in the independent sector they are not, as they believe, saving the local authority money that they should be entitled to. The reverse is potentially true, they are drawing down resources which are calculated without the inclusion of their child.”