Peterborough parent hopes SEND reforms make 'real impact' on families
The Government's pledged £4 billion towards improving the system
A Peterborough councillor says new Government plans for children with special educational needs (SEND) could make a difference for local families.
The changes announced this week mean every child with SEND will have a legal right to a personalised support plan at school.
"They're (the Government) putting the funding in and identifying the need earlier in the early years is what's going to have a real impact on these young people," Councillor Katy Cole, cabinet member for children's services at Peterborough City Council, said.
A £4 billion package has been pledged by the Government to make the SEND system more inclusive.
This includes targeted interventions like small-group language work as well as help for staff to adapt teaching styles in mainstream schools.
SEND assessment at year six 'fantastic'
Part of the package includes £1.8 billion during a three-year period towards creating an "experts at hand" service, made up of specialists such as SEND teachers and speech and language therapists in every area.
Schools will be able to draw from this bank on demand regardless of whether pupils have education, health and care plans - legal documents setting out the support children with Send are entitled to - the Department for Education (DfE) said.
Some unions broadly welcomed the commitment to reform.
NASUWT warned the funding was "barely a drop in the bucket" of what was necessary, while others said they would be scrutinising the details to see whether more was needed.
Cllr Cole - who has a child with SEND - is pleased pupils will be assessed before moving into secondary education.
"When their son or daughter are transitioning from primary into secondary school, listening to the announcements regarding SEND assessment for all pupils in year six, I think that's fantastic," she added.