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This article about Surrey SEND services relies very, very heavily on what local authority leaders say. And it shows
1/ https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/rising-demand-surrey-special-educational-19478545
1/ https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/rising-demand-surrey-special-educational-19478545
The article provides detail on Surrey's use of the High Needs Block, 1 of 4 education funding blocks.
Like a lot of these articles, it assumes - wrongly - that the HNB is "the SEND budget" (more here) https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/blockbusting-whats-happened-780m-extra-send-funding/ 2/
Like a lot of these articles, it assumes - wrongly - that the HNB is "the SEND budget" (more here) https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/blockbusting-whats-happened-780m-extra-send-funding/ 2/
Surrey registered a deficit on its High Needs Block spending last year.
The author says that Surrey "is not alone in facing a hefty deficit in this area"
Unfortunately, the figures show that Surrey very much stands alone here 3/
The author says that Surrey "is not alone in facing a hefty deficit in this area"
Unfortunately, the figures show that Surrey very much stands alone here 3/
Most LAs are running deficits on their High Needs Block - but nowhere else in the country has a deficit as huge as Surrey does.
At the end of 2019-2020, Surrey's cumulative HNB deficit was over ten times bigger than the average - & twice as bad as the next worst LA position 4/
At the end of 2019-2020, Surrey's cumulative HNB deficit was over ten times bigger than the average - & twice as bad as the next worst LA position 4/
So it's correct to say that Surrey has a deficit, just like the other LAs do. It's just not the whole truth
It would also be true to describe Chernobyl as an industrial mishap. But it wouldn't be the whole truth
5/
It would also be true to describe Chernobyl as an industrial mishap. But it wouldn't be the whole truth
5/
The article doesn't really explore why Surrey is in the financial position it's in, aside from faithfully reproducing the usual litany of parent-blaming explanations given by SCC's senior leadership
6/
6/
"High demand" - not 'need', "demand" - like it's a pair of Balenciaga shoes, or pork futures, or just another tradeable commodity.
"High demand" doesn't explain why most LAs with similar demography & need profiles to Surrey haven't racked up 8-figure HNB deficits.
7/
"High demand" doesn't explain why most LAs with similar demography & need profiles to Surrey haven't racked up 8-figure HNB deficits.
7/
This is the explanation given by Surrey's leadership. Everyone & everything else to blame, except for them.
This isn't the view of everyone who works in Surrey SEND. But this view - the bin juice of the public sector - is the view of its most senior leader
8/
This isn't the view of everyone who works in Surrey SEND. But this view - the bin juice of the public sector - is the view of its most senior leader
8/
So why is Surrey in the position it's in? Dysfunctional strategic leadership - over years and years - combined with inadequate internal and external accountability.
The article doesn't mention it, because the dysfunctional strategic leaders are its primary source
9/
The article doesn't mention it, because the dysfunctional strategic leaders are its primary source
9/
For the first 5 years of the SEND reforms, Surrey's Children's Service leaders did not draw on reliable management information, or notice its absence. External auditors went in, & were scathing (see this thread for more)
10/ https://twitter.com/CaptainK77/status/1105759587918073858?s=20
10/ https://twitter.com/CaptainK77/status/1105759587918073858?s=20
This isn't a historical problem. I recently asked Surrey how they planned to allocate their High Needs Block funding for this financial year.
A full seven months into the FY, they said they didn't have that information yet
11/
A full seven months into the FY, they said they didn't have that information yet
11/
Someone asked Surrey how many times they instructed a barrister when defending SENDIST Tribunal appeals in 2018 & 2019
Surrey did not know, and refused to provide data on costs.
There were 506 appeals across those two years
12/
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/669562/response/1602342/attach/6/FOI003564.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
Surrey did not know, and refused to provide data on costs.
There were 506 appeals across those two years
12/
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/669562/response/1602342/attach/6/FOI003564.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
The Local Democracy Reporting Service is a great thing - some of the most valuable £ spent by the BBC, imo
This article isn't a great example - but if you're a Surrey parent or professional, I'd still recommend talking to a Local Democracy Reporter https://www.bbc.com/lnp/ /end
This article isn't a great example - but if you're a Surrey parent or professional, I'd still recommend talking to a Local Democracy Reporter https://www.bbc.com/lnp/ /end
