Title

SEND

Council says 'more to be done' after SEND improvements

Hertfordshire CC has said there is still ‘more to be done’ after an inspection report noted improvements in special educational needs and disability (SEND) services.

© Marcos Castillo/Shutterstock.com.

© Marcos Castillo/Shutterstock.com.

Hertfordshire CC has said there is still ‘more to be done' after an inspection report noted improvements in special educational needs and disability (SEND) services.

Inspectors noted effective action had been taken since the previous inspection in July 2023 and the local area partnership had 'worked at pace to implement improved governance arrangements'.

However, inspectors highlighted the need for continued improvement, encouraging the partnership to continue to address geographical inequity.

Speaking on behalf of Hertfordshire's local area SEND partnership, Hertfordshire CC's executive member for education, SEND and inclusion, Mark Watkin, said: ‘Our improvement journey is by no means over. We know there is more to be done. It is, however, important that we recognise how far we have come.

‘We know that our improvements are not yet being felt by everyone and there are still things we must improve. 

‘We're committed to building upon improvements made so far so that children and young people with SEND in Hertfordshire receive the support and opportunities they deserve.'

SEND

Plymouth powers up youth futures

By Cllr Jemima Laing | 16 February 2026

Cllr Jemima Laing says Plymouth is backing its young people and investing in the city’s future prosperity by spending more than £2.3m to transform three of i...

SEND

Why should we care about the local outcomes framework?

By Jeremy Cooper | 16 February 2026

Jeremy Cooper offers local authorities some suggested dos and don’ts on the new local outcomes framework, and asks if it is likely to drive top-down change.

SEND

Finding 'ordinary' ways to build up local resilience

By Jim Savege | 16 February 2026

By mobilising community groups, councils are building proactive ways of responding to emergencies that are decentralised, flexible, and deeply rooted in loc...

SEND

Many district councils will see a cash cut

By James Hood | 16 February 2026

On average district councils face real terms funding reductions at a time of rising demand, and a long-term solution is still needed on flood protection, sa...

Lee Peart

Popular articles by Lee Peart