Provisions to stay overnight at some of Staffordshire's schools for children with special needs could be cut after the county council announced a review of the service.

Currently some of the children at five of Staffordshire's 23 special schools can stay there overnight for additional educational opportunities.

The scheme, which is funded voluntarily by Staffordshire County Council at an annual cost of £1.8 million a year, is going to be reviewed this autumn ahead of the current contract's expiry next summer.

Jonathan Price, Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet member for Education and SEND, said: "To be clear, this is not respite care for families, but it provides additional opportunities for children with particular needs to socialise and to learn to be a little more independent.

"The challenge is that this opportunity is only open to around three per cent of the children in the county who have an Education, Health and Care Plan – just the ones who study at the five schools.

"There is no predetermined outcome; what we are considering is how we can ensure children from around the county with SEND can access activities and learning opportunities outside school hours on a fair footing."

The County Council provides the Aiming High programme, one-to-one life skills support, and SEND-accessible Healthy Activities and Food provision, and part of the review will identify if additional support is needed to meet the eligible needs of these young people.

Starting next month parents, carers and the five schools will be contacted to begin discussion of preferences and alternatives, which will be followed by a formal consultation on preferred options.

Currently around 6,000 children in Staffordshire have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which provides each one with a personal education plan which is reviewed annually.

The overnight stays at the five schools are not part of any child's EHCP, so are classed as additional provision rather than an integral part of a child's education.

Jonathan Price said: "We know that children taking part in the Aiming High programme and other activities benefit from them a great deal and that's why we're keen to put this on a fair and equal footing across Staffordshire.

"Whatever the outcome of the review no child currently accessing this provision will be left without a clear plan of support and those deemed eligible for respite care by a children's disability social worker will still have access to short breaks."

The five special schools offering additional overnight accommodation are:

Cicely Haughton, Wetley Rocks;

Horton Lodge, Rudyard;

Loxley Hall School, near Uttoxeter;

Saxon Hill Academy, Lichfield;

Walton Hall Academy, near Eccleshall.

More detail about the review and involvement will be shared next month, but parents and carers can email questions before then to: [email protected]