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Written question asked by James Cleverly (Conservative) on Friday, 10 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 April 2026. It was answered by Alison McGovern (Labour) on Monday, 20 April 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Dedicated Schools Grant: Special Educational Needs

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how will councils be expected to finance the remaining 10% cumulative Dedicated Schools Grant SEND deficit.

Answer

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Statutory Override will remain in place until the end of 2027-28. While it remains in effect, all DSG deficits including any proportion of the historic deficit up to 2025-26 not covered by grant (“the residual deficit”) will remain in the associated statutory reserve (“the unusable reserve”) and will not affect local authorities’ wider financial positions. The DSG Statutory Override will end on 31 March 2028. Therefore, local authorities will need to plan to be able to meet the cost of the residual deficit from their own resources in 2028-29, including setting aside appropriate reserves in the preceding years.

The Government recognises that some local authorities will continue to have concerns about the pressures of their DSG deficits and the sufficiency of a 90% grant. The Government committed as part of the publication of the Final Local Government Finance Settlement that it would work with local authorities with these challenges, as part of supporting the development of Local SEND Reform Plans.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
124727
Session
2024-26
Related items
Subjects
Debts Local government Special educational needs Dedicated schools grant
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk