Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 22 of the policy paper entitled SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First, published on 23 February 2026, CP1509, how (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) early years settings in Huntingdonshire will access the capital funding.

We are investing at least £3.7 billion in high needs capital funding between 2025/26 and 2029/30 to support local authorities to provide places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), or who require alternative provision. This funding is expected to fund a transformative expansion of inclusion bases, as well as adaptations to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of mainstream settings. It can also be used to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.

This reflects the statutory responsibility of local authorities to ensure there are sufficient school places for pupils in their area, including those with SEND. Accordingly, schools, colleges and early years settings in Huntingdonshire access this investment through Cambridgeshire County Council. In 2025/26, Cambridgeshire County Council received £7.1 million high needs capital. We will publish local authority high needs capital allocations for 2026/27 in Spring 2026.