Council moves forward with changes to SEND support
Government approval could unlock funding to ease SEND pressures
North Northamptonshire Council is pressing ahead with plans to reform local support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with the aim of reducing the number of families reaching crisis point.
The proposed SEND reform plan was discussed at the council’s executive meeting on Tuesday, 12 May. It forms part of a national programme designed to improve local SEND systems and respond to growing demand.
The plan must be submitted by 19 June as part of the Government’s schools white paper on SEND reform.
Cllr Elizabeth Wright, the council’s executive member for children, education and families, said approving the plan was vital both financially and for improving outcomes for families.
“Behind every section of this report are real children, real families, and real experiences of the SEN system,” she said.
If approved by the Department for Education (DfE), the plan would unlock access to funding aimed at easing pressures on SEND services and addressing overspending on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).
North Northamptonshire Council currently faces a cumulative £45m DSG deficit, driven by rising demand for specialist school places and alternative provision.
Under Government proposals, councils with approved SEND plans could have up to 90% of their historic DSG deficits covered up to 2025/26, with the first payments expected this autumn. The council would also gain access to additional funding to boost SEND capacity within Family Hubs and invest in high-needs capital projects.
The council says the reforms are expected to lead to earlier intervention, better support for families and fewer children reaching crisis point.
Cllr Graham Cheatley, executive member for finance, said: “This plan is the gateway to real change...this is about doing the right thing, acting at pace and making sure we are in the best possible position to deliver real improvements.”
The plan has been shaped using feedback from Northamptonshire Parent Carer Voices, education providers and local SEND boards, drawing on both lived experience and professional expertise.
If the Secretary of State does not approve the plan, the council would miss out on the first round of deficit payments and would need to revise and resubmit it for a second opportunity in spring 2027.