Education
Birmingham faces intervention on SEND
Birmingham City Council faces a further intervention after a damning Ofsted report revealed it was not making progress.
Unravelling the knot of education, health and care plans
Leo Jones lays out the deeper challenges that need to be recognised and addressed if the SEND review is going to tackle the complex problems behind rising numbers of education, health and care plans.
Catching up with lost learning
There is no national strategy to help children recover lost learning and promote emotional health and wellbeing, writes Charlotte Ramsden from the Association of Directors of Children’s Services.
Hitting the target but missing the point
A report by the Institute for Government highlights the risks of a target culture - 'prioritising easy wins, ignoring important issues and manipulating data', says Claire Kober.
Skills devolution key to levelling up
A panel of experts brought together by the Localis think-tank discussed how to bring about economic growth at a local level.
Scottish council told to improve housing and education services
Aberdeen City Council has been warned to improve its housing and education services by the public spending watchdog.
We must stop the Treasury tail wagging the Government dog
Graeme McDonald senses 'much of Whitehall has a greater understanding of our challenges than for many years, but is handcuffed by the inflexible, rigid approach imposed by a shortsighted Exchequer'.
Government must get education right to 'level up'
How the Government manages school catch-up policy is closely linked to the levelling up agenda, says Andrew Carter of Centre for Cities. And it needs to ensure it gets education right for both children and adults, he adds.
A flexible future for workspaces and town centres
Brendon Walsh says that - while an increasingly hybrid approach to work will reshape our centres and high streets - use of permitted development rights and pivoting towards education and emerging industries can support regeneration.
Solidarity in a climate of fear
In the aftermath of a recent religious scandal involving a schoolteacher, Claire Fox salutes the binmen who, she believes, have shown up how a climate of fear can make cowards of leaders – and threaten our democratic core values.
County to review its SEN services following ombudsman investigation
Hampshire County Council has agreed to reviews its SEN services following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
PM announces policies to support levelling up agenda
The Prime Minister has announced 57 local areas will share £830m to transform high streets as part of the Government's levelling up plans.
Javid: Devolution crucial in levelling up
Former local government secretary Sajid Javid has stressed the importance of devolution in the drive towards levelling up the country.
EXCLUSIVE: High needs spending could 'bankrupt councils'
A senior finance director has warned that spending on high needs threatens to ‘bankrupt councils’ as local authorities queue up for a bail out.
Powell becomes shadow housing secretary in mini-reshuffle
Labour leader Keir Starmer has replaced his shadow housing secretary and brought in a high-flyer as shadow child poverty minister as part of a mini-reshuffle.
A sense of hope for the future
The new president of the ADCS Charlotte Ramsden talks to Ann McGauran about her aim of making this the ‘year of resetting our ambition for children and young people in this country’.
SEND funding boost of £280m announced
Councils will receive £280m to create new school places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Somerset MP urges county to up SEN spend
A Somerset MP has urged the county council to find £2.4m from existing coffers to settle a two-year dispute over SEN funding.
Councillors call extraordinary meeting over director secondment
Councillors in Stockport said they had been ‘treated with contempt’ after a joint director with Tameside MBC was appointed without their knowledge.
EXCLUSIVE: Pressure mounts over SEND grant deficit
Councils are facing renewed pressure from the Department for Education (DfE) to make cuts to bring their massive special educational needs deficits into line.
