MORE than £146 million will be spent across the next year by Worcestershire Children First to improve the lives of children and young people across the county.

Over £60 million will be spent on placements, making sure children are provided with the level of care and support they need.

More than £22 million will be invested to help children get to and from school and improve the current home to school transport offer to children and parents. The funding will help ease significant pressures, which are not unique to Worcestershire, in mainstream home to school transport and special educational needs transport services.

Over £45 million is being spent from the Capital Programme to build a new secondary school for Worcester, which will ensure children can access a secondary school place within their local community in a growing city.

“We know that children and young people are Worcestershire’s future and we know that having a great start in life sets the foundations for them to achieve their full potential,” said Tracey Onslow, cabinet member for education on Worcestershire County Council.

A £250,000 one off allocation has also been agreed from the Council’s Business Rates Reserve.