Rachael Wardell, ADCS Vice President, said:

“It is impossible to comment on individual plans and LA practices which do vary. However, the writing of plans involves a series of professionals, including health partners and schools, as well as children and their families. Their views influence the interventions and support put in place. Everywhere there are very significant challenges in meeting the level of need and demand now being seen in the system and there is a widespread recognition, including from government, that the 2014 reforms themselves require significant reform or overhaul as they’re not working for children, families, or schools and threaten the financial viability of LAs. 

“The demand for assessments and plans is rising exponentially and ADCS has previously advocated for a stronger focus on, and investment in, the SEND caseworker role in LAs. They coordinate and work with others in education, health and social care. All these services are under huge pressures in terms of resourcing and workforce, for example there are very significant shortages of the educational psychologist roles. We do also need to see health partners commit more capacity to meeting the needs of children and hope to see children prioritised in the next NHS long term plan. 

“The 2014 reforms were not fully funded, for schools or for local authorities, for example no additional funding was provided to work with the expanded 18 – 25s cohort. A growing number of LAs are on the verge of bankruptcy due to overspends, or underfunding, of the 2014 reforms. The wider context here is freezes in school budgets and a 50% real terms reduction in LA funding from central government since 2010, plus rising costs and other pressures.”

ENDS