MPs will write to ministers to demand answers over a controversial SEND contract which “appears to contradict evidence” from the children’s minister.
The Department for Education has signed a £19.5 million contract with Newton Europe, which includes “targeting at least 20 per cent reduction in new education, health and care plans issued”.
The consultancy has developed the government’s “delivering better value in SEND” project, which works with 55 councils to bring down their SEND budget deficits.
Within the contract, signed last year, it says “the intention” of budget management plans will help achieve the “following impacts”, including “reduced cost pressure on the high needs budgets of selected local authorities as a result of reduced growth in the number of EHCPs”.
