Education representatives campaign for fairer funding and education reform at f40 conference

East Riding representatives will be championing reform and investment into SEND provision at the national f40 conference.

On Tuesday, 11 March, the f40 conference 2025 looks at the future of education and the path to reform, investment and success.

The Market Weighton School Headteacher Richard Harrison, Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education in East Riding, Merlin Joseph, Executive Director of children, families and schools and Tom Chamberlain, Interim Director of education and schools will join others from across the country, campaigning for fairer funding and education reform.

Richard Harrison will be integral to the conference, as part of a panel discussing good mainstream education and improving inclusion. Richard will talk about how The Market Weighton School helps children reach their potential. The secondary school has been recognised for its outstanding inclusive practice, being awarded the Most Inclusive Practice across a school in the National SEND awards last year. The school also has the highest proportion of children with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in an East Riding secondary school, with 12 percent of pupils having an EHCP.

Richard said: “We have been growing the provision at Market Weighton for the last eight years to what it has become now. At the heart of everything we do as a school is inclusivity - ensuring all pupils can get involved on sports days, for school plays and we have a true school community ethos. It benefits all children too, with children growing in compassion and understanding of others.

“What we are seeing is that demand for SEND support is exceeding available funding and resources. We know we need to expand our provision, but the finances are not there to do it.

“As the area with the lowest funding per child with SEND needs, it is particularly challenging, and we need reform of the funding formula and of education for all. Being funded the same as the average local authority area would make a huge difference and mean more physical provision and more training for staff. However, we also need to see a shift in how inclusivity is set within education, so that more mainstream schools can support SEND pupils and that this is recognised through inspections and assessments.”

Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education said: “To tackle the SEND crisis we need reform, investment and fairer funding. f40 highlights the increased SEND needs across the country, insufficient funding and unfair funding between local authorities. It also highlights the challenges of growing local authority SEND deficits, the teacher recruitment and retention crisis, and mainstream schools struggling to meet SEND needs.

“Schools must be provided with the right funding, training and resources to enable them to better support SEND. 

“I continue to work hard representing East Riding, as the lowest funded council for SEND. Despite the funding challenges, we have some fantastic practice, as highlighted by Richard from The Market Weighton School, who is representing Secondary Headteachers on a national scale."

East Riding receives £9 million less in funding than the England average for mainstream education, and £18 Million less than the average for SEND funding.

f40 is a group of local authorities that historically receives the lowest levels of funding per pupil. The f40 conference involves council representatives from across the country, along with cross-party MPs, Headteachers and partner organisations. Attendees will hear from Dame Christine Lenehan, Government Strategic Advisor on SEND, as the keynote speaker, and Prof Anna Remington, Director of the Centre for Research in Autism and Education, University College London.