Janet Higgins, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Education and SEND, has responded to Government proposals to change the way support is delivered for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
She said:
“I am pleased that the Government has finally moved to address this issue, which puts huge pressure on the families affected by the need to access services, and on the local authorities trying to meet the demand.
“I want to fully understand the detail of this White Paper before commenting, but I hope the proposals are on the side of parents and that they provide clarity about who is responsible for delivery, as well as addressing outstanding questions about the issue of funding.”
Staffordshire County Council currently supports more than 24,000 pupils with SEND. Of those 9,925 have EHCPs, an increase of 50 per cent in three years.
The county council has already invested in early support to target backlogs, and increased early intervention to prevent need escalating.
It is spending £1 million to create a Stafford town centre campus for 16 to 19-year-olds attending Walton Hall Academy near Eccleshall.
There are 23 special schools in Staffordshire, and the county council is working on increasing capacity at those – including the development of a new, all-age special school – as well as in mainstream schools.
