Title

EDUCATION

New SEND plan fails on 'fundamental' issues, say council leaders

The Government’s new plan to help support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) fails to address the ‘fundamental issues’ faced by local authorities, according to council leaders.

The Government's new plan to help support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) fails to address the ‘fundamental issues' faced by local authorities, according to council leaders.

Published today, the new SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan promises to deliver thousands of additional specialist school places and 33 new special free schools.

The plan also details the Government's intention to invest in training for staff, including 5,000 early years' special educational needs coordinators and 400 educational psychologists.

Some £4.8m will be spent to extend the AP Specialist Taskforces, which offer intensive support to young people in alternative provision, and £70m will be made available to test and refine the improvement plans.

Children's minister Claire Coutinho said: ‘The improvement plan we are publishing today sets out systemic reforms to standards, teacher training and access to specialists, as well as thousands of new places at specialist schools so that every child gets the help they need.'

But president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, Steve Crocker, said the plan ‘must go much further and faster in a number of areas'.

He continued: ‘The additional funding being made available to support the proposals is welcome, but, with high needs budget deficits rising, there is still not enough money in the system to meet the level of need being seen.'

Chair of the Local Government Association's children and young people board, Louise Gittins, added the plan did ‘not go far enough in addressing the fundamental cost and demand issues that result in councils struggling to meet the needs of children with SEND'.

She continued: ‘We are also concerned over the lack of any plan to give councils additional powers to lead SEND systems effectively.

'We do not believe the Government has the capacity to hold councils, schools and other partners to account for their work supporting children with SEND.'

The County Councils' Network urged the Government to expand its safety valve programme to all local authorities.

EDUCATION

Community restoration

By Dan Peters | 28 October 2025

After last year’s horrific terror attack in Southport, Sefton Council has been working tirelessly to rebuild trust and unity across the borough. Chief execut...

EDUCATION

Closing the skills gap

By Greg Clark | 28 October 2025

Greg Clark ponders if post-16 reforms will finally pull the UK out of its productivity slump?

EDUCATION

Balancing UK industrial strategy with Local Growth Plans

By Paige Portal | 27 October 2025

Paige Portal looks at whether local government can balance the Industrial Strategy’s national priorities with their own regional strengths and distinct needs.

EDUCATION

Nine councils in Derbyshire unite behind two unitaries

By Ann McGauran | 27 October 2025

Derbyshire's councils have moved closer to a consensus with the county on reorganisation now that joint proposals for two unitaries are set to be considered ...

Popular articles by William Eichler