Government approves ‘more than 9 in 10’ local SEND reform plans

More than nine in 10 plans outlining how local areas will implement government’s SEND reforms in return for a near-complete write off of historical deficits have been approved by ministers.

The Department for Education has today confirmed that “more than 90 per cent” of local SEND reform plans – submitted to the DfE by councils and integrated care boards – have been given the green light. This equates to at least 137 councils with responsibility for education.

Ministers said they would wipe 90 per cent of councils’ historical SEND deficits in return for approved plans. It is estimated doing so will cost the government more than £5 billion.

FE Week has published copies of the first 40 draft local SEND reform plans released by councils in an interactive map. Our investigation found that nearly half of council plans contained little information on post-16 provision, sparking concern that proposals with thin post-16 detail could be passed if the rest of the document is strong.

Our sister paper Schools Week also uncovered most councils feared a shortage of specialist staff for the new “experts at hand” service threatens to undermine proposals.

Clare Howard, chief executive of specialist college body Natspec, said the news would be “welcome relief” for councils needing historical deficits written off, but warned the plans “must translate” into better provision for young people.

“We are concerned that many plans were developed without specialist colleges and, in some cases, explicitly propose reducing their role – despite the DfE asking local areas to work with the full range of education providers,” she said.

She added: “This runs counter to the government’s ambition for an inclusive system. The essential role of specialist colleges, in providing for young people with the most complex needs and working with LAs to support an inclusive mainstream, should be more fully recognised in the plans.

“The DfE should require local areas to revisit any plan that misunderstands specialist colleges or overlooks FE and the needs of 16 to 25 year olds.”

‘Work closely’ with councils

A government spokesperson said: “Local authorities and integrated care boards are central to improving support for children and young people with SEND. That’s why we asked every area to show how they will deliver our reforms.

“With over 90 per cent of plans approved, almost every part of the country has now set out how it will improve SEND support.”

The announcement means around 15 councils had their plans “deferred by the DfE”, meaning they have until November to re-submit them. The DfE said it would publish their names shortly.

“Councils and integrated care boards are accountable for the local partnerships delivering reform plans and we will work closely with the small number that have been deferred, before they re-submit them.”

The DfE said local authorities with deferred plans should continue to “deliver services as normal”.