The Government has approved more than nine in ten local SEND reform plans, marking another significant step in its plans to reshape special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision across England.
Announced this week, the Department for Education confirmed that more than 90% of local plans have been approved – representing at least 137 councils. Around 15 local authorities have had their plans deferred and will have until November to resubmit them.
But what does this actually mean for children, families and schools?
At the heart of the reforms is a move towards earlier intervention and greater inclusion in mainstream education. The Government wants children to receive support before their needs escalate, rather than families having to navigate lengthy processes to secure help.
A major part of the strategy is the £1.8 billion “Experts at Hand” programme. This aims to bring professionals such as educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and specialist teachers closer to mainstream schools and settings.
There is also significant investment in mainstream inclusion. A £1.6 billion Inclusive Mainstream Fund is intended to help schools develop their SEND provision, while wider investment will create more specialist places and Inclusion Bases within mainstream settings. Staff are also due to receive additional SEND training.
For families, the intended outcome is a system that is easier to access, more joined-up and less dependent on securing an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) before support can begin. The Government has proposed new Individual Support Plans, while existing EHCPs and their protections will remain in place during the transition.
However, approval of local plans is only the beginning. The real test will be implementation. Schools will need sufficient funding, trained staff and access to specialist professionals. Local authorities and health services will need to work closely together, and families will want to see whether promised support translates into meaningful change on the ground.
There is also a financial dimension. In return for approved reform plans, councils are set to have 90% of their historic high-needs Dedicated Schools Grant deficits resolved – a programme expected to involve more than £5 billion.
The direction of travel is therefore clear: earlier support, more inclusive mainstream education and greater collaboration between education, health and local government.
For children and families, though, success will ultimately be measured not by the number of plans approved, but by whether children receive the right support, at the right time, in the right setting.