West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed extra cash allocated to the county to help improve support for pupils with extra needs. Education Secretary Damian Hinds this week announced an extra £250 million of funding available to local authorities over the next two years – Worcestershire will get just over £2.4 million. The money will be used to offer extra school places for higher needs pupils as well as improving facilities such as state-of-the-art teaching facilities like sensory rooms and specialist equipment. The extra cash comes alongside a series of reforms aimed at improving education provision for these pupils and allowing more special free schools to offer more choice for local parents. More money will also be allocated to train more educational psychologists who are responsible for assessing children’s needs and providing tailored support. Harriett welcomed the extra money and commented: “As a Government, it is our ambition to offer children with higher needs the same opportunities as every child – to achieve well in school and college, to find employment and to go on and live happy and fulfilled lives. “I have huge admiration for the local teachers who work so hard within our schools offering specialist teaching for these pupils and hope that the extra cash will make a difference. “We all want the very best for our children and I look forward to hearing how the money will be spent to benefit the educational needs of local pupils.”