LGA responds to Ofsted report on supporting SEND in mainstream schools

Responding to today’s Ofsted report which states that some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in mainstream schools are not getting enough help to support their learning and development, Cllr Teresa Heritage, Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:

“It is good that this research recognises that multi-agency support for pupils with SEND often complements the support offered by schools. However, the continued rise in demand for overall and new education, health and care (EHC) plans remains a pressing issue for councils as they strive to provide every child with the best possible support to meet their needs.

“All children, including those with SEND, will undoubtedly need additional support in the coming weeks and months due to the impact of the pandemic.

“The Government needs to urgently complete its ongoing review of the SEND system. It needs to set out reforms that increase mainstream inclusion, provides councils with long-term certainty of funding to meet the needs of all children with SEND, and gives councils the power to hold education partners to account if their provision for identifying and supporting children with SEND is not adequate.”