School leaders and head teachers in Northamptonshire have sent a letter of protest to the local county council, protesting cuts that could impact education services
Funding cuts that could severely impact child and education services in Northamptonshire have been protested by 200 education leaders in the area, according to the BBC.
The education leaders in question have all signed an open letter to Northamptonshire County Council criticising the cuts.
But the council is facing a potential budget shortfall of between £60m and £70, forcing it to consider where savings can be made.
The council says it is still in the consultation stage of the savings plan (although a plan has been published), but the letter states that this plan could “put at risk the education and safeguarding of many vulnerable young people”.
The Conservative-led council’s leader, Matt Golby, said:
“These are unprecedented times for us and as such we have a plan to address the financial challenges we now face.”
The county’s finances have been called “truly perilous” by one of the two government-appointed commissioners that have been overseeing the council.
Now, a pressure group calling itself Educating Northants has been set up to campaign for the protection of educational services.
The letter said education leaders are particularly concerned with a proposed £1.8m cut to social care, a £1.1m cut to school transport and a £3.8m cut to learning disability commissioning.
The letter says: ‘It is unacceptable that vulnerable children and adults in our county should pay the price of financial mismanagement from unsatisfactory administrations.
‘We therefore reject these proposed cuts to children’s services and ask that you find ways to achieving financial savings that are not at the detriment to… children and young people.’
Golby added: “The Stabilisation Plan published alongside our latest financial reports show how we are now moving firmly towards stabilising our budget position.
“It must be noted that many of the proposals outlined in the headteachers’ letter will be subject to further engagement and consultation and will not be treated as isolated issues.”
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