Heather Sandy, Chair of the ADCS Education Policy Committee said:

“ADCS welcomes the measures outlined in the new legislation aimed at empowering local authorities to improve inclusion.

Local authorities have a key role on local place planning and a statutory duty to ensure there are enough school places available for all local children and young people.  This has been very challenging in an increasingly fragmented system, and until now have not had the appropriate levers meet this duty, such as influencing academy school admissions and proposing or creating new schools in the right locations to meet need.  It is right that there is a level playing field for teacher pay, and conditions across the education system and ADCS will respond to the consultation in due course.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill provides local authorities, as leaders in place, with powers to help ensure the wider education system works for all children and young people, including those with special educational needs.”

ENDS