SEND

  • EXCLUSIVE: Pressure mounts over SEND grant deficit

    17 February 2021

    Councils are facing renewed pressure from the Department for Education (DfE) to make cuts to bring their massive special educational needs deficits into line.

  • Government stop-gap on SEND deficits

    17 November 2020

    Treasurers have welcomed a second government attempt to deal with spiralling special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) deficits but have stressed it is ‘not sustainable’.

  • Ofsted warns of COVID impact on SEND support

    09 November 2020

    The pandemic has ‘seriously affected’ support for special educational needs an disabilities (SEND), according to Ofsted.

  • If Robin Hood ran our SEND services

    06 October 2020

    Nottinghamshire CC is one of the 11 local authorities on IMPOWER’s 2020 Index of the best performing councils for High Needs. Colin Pettigrew offers insight into the reasons behind its success.

  • Supporting young workers with SEND through the crisis

    25 September 2020

    Claire Cookson discusses how young people with learning disabilities have stepped into key worker roles for councils during the pandemic, and how the period can act as a springboard for more fairness and equality.

  • Auditors poised to qualify accounts over SEND

    24 September 2020

    Auditors are poised to qualify some value for money opinions as a result of spiralling special educational needs and disabilities deficits, The MJ understands.

  • Criticised council makes SEND investment

    02 September 2020

    Bristol City Council has pledged to spend £29m on capital works to boost services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

  • High hopes for high needs

    30 August 2020

    IMPOWER has published a list of the best performing councils on high needs. Leo Jones takes a look at who's on it and at what makes them so good.

  • Government relaxes recovery plan demand

    17 August 2020

    The Government has scrapped its requirement for all councils with a cumulative dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficit of more than 1% to submit a recovery plan.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Deficit puts councils on cliff edge

    23 July 2020

    Many councils could be pushed over the ‘financial cliff edge’ if the £500m of high-needs deficit faced by the sector is not written off, the Government has been warned.

  • MPs tell department to 'get a grip' on SEND

    05 May 2020

    The Department for Education (DfE) does not have a grip on mounting pressure in the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system, a watchdog has found.

  • CIPFA releases new deficits guidance

    28 April 2020

    Councils will not be required to put aside money from their general reserves to support future funding of any dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficit, new guidance has confirmed.

  • 'No quick fixes' after watchdog criticism

    21 April 2020

    Bristol City Council admitted there were ‘no quick fixes’ as it published a written statement of action in the wake of watchdog criticism.

  • SEND support legal requirements relaxed

    25 March 2020

    The Government has used emergency powers to relax requirements for councils supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

  • SEND system 'not working as well as it should' - top civil servant

    09 March 2020

    The reformed system for supporting children with special and educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is ‘not working as well as it should,’ senior civil servants have admitted.

  • Calm prevails despite tough times

    25 February 2020

    A lack of clarity on funding, including on temporary monies for social care and SEND beyond 31 March 2021 means these are challenging times, says Gary Fielding - but despite this most senior officers and councillors seem remarkably calm, he adds.

  • Frustration grows over SEND deficits funding crackdown

    19 February 2020

    Councils are unhappy about the Government’s message that they cannot rely on schools block funding to address rocketing special needs and disabilities (SEND) deficits. Dan Peters reports.

  • Councils consider judicial review amid SEND crisis

    17 February 2020

    Councils are starting to talk to lawyers about a potential judicial review of the Government amid a crisis in special educational needs and disability (SEND).

  • Demand led, resource constrained: SEND is broken

    17 February 2020

    Outraged at the Government's call for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities financial recovery plans, Ian Thomas explains why it is the funding that is flawed, not the execution.

  • Davey: SEND crisis could blow up in councils

    30 January 2020

    The acting Lib Dem leader has warned that the crisis in special educational needs and disability (SEND) ‘could blow up in councils across the country’.