Hertfordshire County Council is awaiting a Government decision on a special educational needs reform plan which could significantly reduce its high needs funding deficit.

Members of the council's impact of scrutiny advisory committee heard the authority is expecting a response from the Department for Education in September or October after submitting a SEND reform plan.

Jo Fisher, executive director for children's services and education, said the outcome could have major financial implications for the council.

She told councillors: "If our reform plan is accepted by the Department for Education, then the Government have said they will offset 90% of our overspend on high needs funding.

"So, it has significant budgetary implications. We have been told that the SEND reform plan that we submitted was a strong one, had significant partnership input prior to submission, and we now await the outcome."

The high needs budget supports children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Like many local authorities nationally, Hertfordshire has faced increasing demand for SEND support and growing pressure on its dedicated schools grant high needs block.

Ms Fisher said the council had been told its submission was "a strong one" and had benefited from significant partnership involvement before being sent to Government.

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The update came as councillors reviewed recommendations from an earlier budget scrutiny exercise.

One recommendation called for greater scrutiny of the council's SEND reform plans and the financial implications of the authority's approach.

Ms Fisher said the recommendation had now been completed after discussion at the Education, Skills and Inclusion Cabinet Panel.

Councillors agreed to sign off the recommendation.

The Government introduced a safety valve-style system to help councils tackle large accumulated deficits linked to SEND spending, with authorities required to submit reform plans in return for financial support.

The outcome of Hertfordshire's submission is expected later this autumn.

The decision could play a significant role in the council's medium-term financial planning as demand for SEND services continues to increase.