SEND
Bridging the SEND gap
Cllr Ian Edwards at London Councils welcomes the new SEND Green Paper, but he says challenges remain to be addressed, including a need to invest in creating a sustainable infrastructure.
How many hats?
Martin Samuels considers the advantages of having one director combining the children’s services and adult social services roles, and looks at what the future holds for the ‘twin hats’ job.
Financial sustainability is vital for councils
Chairman of the LGA Cllr James Jamieson says he met with the new secretary of state Greg Clark, welcomed him back to his former role and outlined 'the challenges and opportunities we face at this pivotal time'.
Ombudsman raises role change fears
Questions remain about the future of the Local Government Ombudsman’s long-standing role in the redress system for children with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
ADCS conference: SEND reforms will fail to fix finances
Proposed reforms to support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will fail to address the ‘financial black hole’ looming over the sector, it has been claimed.
Demand for SEND support rises by quarter
The Local Government Association has urged the Government to scrap high needs deficits to help meet demand from children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Government to bailout more councils over SEND
The Government is in talks to expand its programme of bailing out under-pressure councils to wipe out their special educational needs (SEND) deficits.
‘Significant weaknesses’ found by Birmingham audit
A report has revealed ‘significant weaknesses’ in services and a ‘lack of stable leadership’ at Birmingham City Council.
Sharing a passion for supported internships
Edwina Grant shares her experience of supporting young people with autism and learning disabilities at Lancashire CC, and her belief in the importance of other councils and companies getting involved with the transition to work programme.
Delivering school transport services during a fuel crisis
The cost of living has been especially felt in home-to -school transport, says Nicola Beach. The Government may need to look at the particular county-based issues in delivering it and set out specific and targeted solutions, she adds.
Doing the right thing for children
With the direction of the Government’s policies for schools and SEND becoming clearer, the new president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services Steve Crocker speaks to Ann McGauran about his priorities for the next year.
Slough SEND services ‘not fit for purpose’ due to resources
Services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at Slough Council have been under-resourced for 18 months, councillors have heard.
It is imperative to get the SEND reforms right
Proposals to address the future demand pressures in education, health and care plans through a set of national standards are welcome, but can the Green Paper adequately address the substantial deficits of many CCN members, asks Simon Edwards.
Call for national review of children's mental health services
The new president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has called for a post-pandemic national review of children’s mental health services.
An end to the SEND lottery?
The new Green Paper on special educational needs and disability received a generally warm reception from the sector, but concerns remain around funding and delivering cultural change. Chris Mahony reports.
Nine councils to receive £300m in SEND deficit deals
The authorities have reached agreements with the Government to wipe out their special educational needs (SEND) deficits.
The frenzy of policy must not lead to fragmented reforms
The MJ's first in-person Future Forum North since the pandemic focused attention on the endless list of issues facing local government that is starting to make a mockery of the word 'priority', says Heather Jameson.
Government vows to end 'postcode lottery' on SEND
Schools, councils and health providers will need to work together to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with more targetted funding, a Government Green Paper said today.
Counties warn of school transport crisis
Hikes in fuel costs are meaning local authorities are having pay providers significantly more, according to a report published by the County Councils Network (CCN) today.
Council leaders call for reform of ‘adversarial’ SEND system
Council leaders have called on the Government to tackle the rise in tribunals over special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) disagreements as they warn the system has become ‘adversarial’.