Report highlights cheaper solution for children with SEN

A new report from Baker Tilly, commissioned by the National Association of Independent Schools and Non-Maintained Special Schools – NASS – has confirmed that independent and non-maintained special school provision is cheaper than the equivalent local authority provision for students with complex special educational needs. 

A second study, using social return on investment methodology, calculated that placements in the eight participant schools represent annual savings and returns of approximately £24 million to the government. 

The association said if these findings were to be replicated across the non-maintained and independent sector, this would represent annual returns of more than £600 million.

The Baker Tilly Study has indicated that a day or weekly/fortnightly boarding placement in a non-maintained or independent special school (NMISS) is cheaper than the equivalent package of support being provided by a local authority. 

This expanded study follows last year’s cost comparison report which suggested that, on average, packages of support in day and term-time NMISS provision were cheaper than a local authority providing such support themselves. 

It comes as the government is in the process of implementing the biggest changes to SEN provision for 30 years.

Claire Dorer the chief executive of NASS, said: “We now have strong evidence that day and weekly/fortnightly boarding in NMISS offers a more cost effective route to delivering multi-agency support to young people with complex needs.

“We know that parents have had roadblocks put in their path when they have attempted to place their children into non-maintained and independent special schools. We are, therefore, pleased that the government SEN proposals plan to give parents the right to express a preference for a non-maintained special school. 

“However, NASS calls on this right to be extended to Independent Special Schools. Independent Special Schools provide services generally not available in other special schools, improving the life chances of those pupils.”