CHANGES in the way schooling is provided for Dorset children unable to attend mainstream schools could cost £8million over a four-year period from next autumn.

Some of the young people have been excluded from school, others may not be able to attend because of illness or other health reasons.

Costs in the current financial year are estimated at £2.7million for the service, most of it being spent on children who have education, health and care plans in place with the council having contracts with more than sixty providers.

Education portfolio holder Cllr Andrew Parry told this week’s Cabinet meeting that it was hoped some savings could be made when the procurement process got underway later in the year with improvements in safeguarding and educational outcomes. It was also hoped to find places closer to home with many Dorset children currently being educated out of the county.

“Our ambition is to support all children and young people in their journey to adulthood with underpinning principles of early help, personalisation and inclusion and enabling them to achieve their chosen outcomes. We know that children are safer when they are in education,” said a report to the meeting.

The latest figures show 223 children from the Dorset Council area receiving a service from an alternative education provider, a higher percentage than other councils.

Of these just over half are of secondary school age; 28 per cent primary school age and a similar percentage of sixth form or further education age.

Cabinet members were told that a combination of reducing the number of children in alternative provision and reducing the length of time would cuts costs as would setting and reviewing costs as part of new contracts.