The first multi year local government finance settlement in a decade offers a welcome and overdue step towards stability for children's services.
After years of uncertainty on this front and in relation to the Dedicated Schools Grant deficits accrued over the last decade, the Government's commitment to taking on the bulk of this debt provides vital breathing space. It means directors of children's services, our teams and partners, can shift the focus back to what matters most: improving experiences and outcomes for children and young people, rather than achieving savings to avoid our organisations tipping into insolvency.
