1. Have you sought, or are you seeking, to reduce the use of post-16 independent specialist provision as part of your proposed safety valve agreement with the government to reduce your high needs costs over time?
2. Please can you explain what measures you are putting in place to help you achieve the required Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) cost savings when it comes to post-16?
3. Assuming that you keep a corporate risk register, what is the current risk that your council will not be able to deliver on its statutory responsibilities in relation to children and young people with SEND?
4. Has this risk rating increased in the last 12 months? If the answer is yes, by how much has it increased?
5. And is there a consequent risk that the council might have to declare a section 114 notice in the next three years because it is unable to balance its books, partly driven by the escalating costs of children and young people and SEND budgets?
We consider this information is exempt under Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act (information provided in confidence) due to our safety valve proposals currently being scrutinised by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Devon County Council are not obliged to provide information that was provided by any other person, if its disclosure would constitute a breach of confidence, and a legal person could bring a court action for that breach of confidence, which would be likely to succeed.