News

An independent report on rising needs in children under five commissioned by the Local Government Association has found councils and early years providers are consistently seeing an increase in volume and complexity of need.

“Rising high needs deficits are pushing councils to the brink, and these findings reinforce the urgent need for reform of the SEND system, which is failing too many children and families.

“We are pleased the review has acknowledged the curriculum needs to benefit all pupils, including those with SEND. Improving mainstream inclusion is vital in reforming the SEND system.

Everybody should have the chance to work or retrain, to help increase their aspirations and skills to realise their potential. The labour market has changed significantly in recent years and continues to adapt, so people need joined up local support.

“We urgently need to reform our children’s social care and SEND systems, including transformational investment in the services that give all children the best start in life.”

"It is good the Government has acted on our call for councils to be allowed to establish their own multi-academy trusts. This recognises the important role of councils as education partners and enables maintained schools to continue enjoying a close working relationship with their council."

“Councils have a crucial role to play in education, from ensuring every child has a school place to turning around struggling schools, and as they showed when providing vital support to schools during the pandemic."

More than a million additional school children could receive free school meals and be entitled to extra support funding if the sign-up process for the scheme was simplified and extended to more families.

"We fully support the investment targeted at ‘cold spot’ areas, to help provide the schooling every child deserves. However, the pandemic has hit the educational attainment of all pupils hard, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds, and the impact of this will be felt for years to come."

“Councils face significant financial challenges to deliver much-needed SEND support to all those who need it and to meet rising demand, reporting a spending deficit of £675 million last year."