A council has set out plans to strengthen support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
A new Local SEND Reform Plan has been created by council officers in County Durham as part of the government’s latest education reforms.
The reforms, announced through the Schools White Paper Every Child Achieving and Thriving, aim to reshape the SEND system by focusing on earlier intervention, improving inclusion in mainstream schools and strengthening cooperation between education, health and care services.
Council officers said demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in County Durham had continued to rise sharply, reflecting a national trend.
While there was strong evidence that children’s needs were being identified at an early stage, the council said support was not always provided quickly enough to prevent cases escalating into formal statutory processes.
The council also highlighted variations in inclusive practice between schools and education settings, which it said could lead to inconsistent experiences for children and their families.
County Durham’s Local SEND Reform Plan has been developed following an assessment of the county’s current SEND services and includes a self-evaluation known as a Local Partnership Maturity Matrix.
According to the report, the reforms represent “a fundamental system reset rather than an incremental policy change”.
It added that the changes offered an opportunity to improve outcomes for children and young people while helping to tackle long-term financial and operational pressures on local services.
The council said the plan provides a “clear and deliverable pathway for improvement” and has been developed in partnership with education, health and care organisations across the county.
All local authorities are required to submit their plans to the government as part of the wider national SEND reform programme.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
