Cheshire East could see deficit wiped out

Cheshire East could see up to 90 per cent of its whopping £156 million special needs deficit wiped by the government in October 2026.

The DSG (dedicated schools grant) overspend was £156.596 million at the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

Earlier this year, the government pledged to cover up to 90 per cent of historic SEND (special educational needs and disability) deficits accrued up to the end of 2025/26 for all councils, on condition they submitted a SEND reform plan which had to be approved by the Department for Education (DfE).