“Significantly reduced funding” has forced the county council to pull outsourced education services back in-house, according to the county council, despite facing criticism over how it handled the schemes.

This month Bucks County Council was accused of “not learning lessons” after it announced plans to end its contract with Bucks Learning Trust (BLT) and bring the services back into the council offices.

However cabinet member for resources, John Chilver, insisted the council is “pleased” with the way BLT has delivered the contract over the past five years and “looks forward to continuing to work with the trust”.

All grant funded school support services will be brought back in-house, according to Cllr Chilver, in the face of Government funding cuts – which has seen the council lose £61 million a year.

BLT has been providing educational services since 2013 as part of a five-year contract, which expires in July, however it won't be renewed as “the contractual model is no longer viable”.

Cllr Chilver said: “The Learning Trust will continue to operate in its own right and continue to support the Buckinghamshire landscape.

“Over the past five years the BLT has met all key performance indicators set by BCC and delivered good outcomes by increasing the percentage of pupils attending a school judged as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

“In addition to significantly improving outcomes for pupils BLT has over the last 5 years reduced the cost spent on education support services.

“BCC have been pleased with the way BLT has delivered the contract over the last five years and looks forward to continuing to work with the trust.”

In December 2016 several social care services, including Bucks Care, were brought back in house after the county council said it “lost confidence” in the care provider.

Councillors discussed numerous issues with outsourcing vital services at a meeting of the finance, performance, and resources select on March 6.

Councillor Billy Bendyshe-Brown accused BCC of repeating mistakes with BLT that were previously made while working with Transport for Bucks – the county council’s transport arm.