County councils calls on government for SEND improvements

Staffordshire County Council has called on the government to implement urgent reforms for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Janet Higgins, Cabinet Member for Education, has written to the Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson MP calling for urgent reforms to ensure all children in Staffordshire receive the support they need to thrive and reach their full potential.

The letter highlights five key areas for change ahead of forthcoming plans for schools, due to be set out by government in the autumn.

These key areas are:

1. Implementing a fairer funding formula that reflects the current needs for pupils rather than being based on historic spend.
2. Incentivising the inclusion of SEND pupils in mainstream schools, and reforming the national curriculum to ensure it is truly inclusive and prepares children for the adult world.
3. Reforming the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) system to ensure it is fit for purpose.
4. Addressing the shortage of Educational Psychologists and other professionals, and consider whether they could be better utilised to provide early intervention.
5. Addressing the unchecked independent special school market.

Janet said:

“Improving SEND provision is one of our four core priorities, and we are determined to ensure that all children in Staffordshire receive the support they need at the earliest opportunity.

“The current system is difficult to navigate and creates an intense financial burden on local authorities. It is widely agreed that the SEND system is broken and not fit for purpose. It has also failed the children and young people it was designed to support."

Added to this, she has written to all Staffordshire MPs to back the letter and help put pressure on the government to reform the system. Of 11 MPs, only one, Sir Gavin Williamson MP, has agreed to co-sign the letter.

Janet continued:

“I am grateful to Sir Gavin Williamson for his support with our asks to government.

“However, I am disappointed that our other local MPs have not taken the opportunity to support our request for change. Ensuring all children in Staffordshire can thrive is everybody’s business, and it has been well documented that the current SEND system is failing and is in desperate need of reform. This is an issue that transcends politics, and we should all be working together for children with SEND and their families.

“Our local MPs are the ones best placed to be able to make the case for government, and I would urge them to support our efforts—as a council we can only do so much, and we need further support to bring about the long-term reform needed.”

The government has committed to setting out its plans for reform in the autumn.