1. What is the name of your local authority
Wokingham Borough Council

2. How much was spent on your high needs budget by the end of the financial year 2023/24? Please add the value below
£41,163,000

3. What was your original allocated high needs budget for 2023/24?
£36,585,000

4. How much are you expecting to have spent on your high needs budget by the end of the financial year 2024/25? Please add the value below
£40,790,000

5. What is your original allocated high needs budget for 2024/25?
£40,790,000

6. Have you sought permission from the Department for Education to move more than 0.5% from the DSG to high needs in the current financial year 2024/25?
No

7. If YES, was permission granted?
N/A

8. Has the council signed up to the Safety Valve programme or any other government scheme to reduce its SEND deficit? If so, how much money has been offered to the council?
a) YES / NO
b) Name of scheme (if YES): Safety Valve Programme
c) Value of scheme to the council: £20,181,800

9. Has the council been part of the Delivering Better Value in SEND programme?
No

10. Please tell us about any other ways the council is looking to reduce pressure on its high needs budget and add any further comments that would help us understand those pressures on your high needs budget.
The Council is working in partnership with school leaders and key stakeholders, including families, to continue to develop its SEND service and offer to children and young people with additional needs/disabilities and their families. Driving service improvement will support with reducing pressure on the high needs budget, however the priority is identifying needs and meeting these at the right time through an early intervention approach.