More specialist resource units to be rolled out to support SEN children in Kent
KCC Cabinet Member for Education says 55 specialist units attached to mainstream schools are planned or already implemented
Last updated 10th Nov 2025
Efforts to bolster support for children with additional educational needs in mainstream schools across Kent are being stepped up with extra specialist resource units, according to the county's Cabinet Member for Education.
Addressing concerns raised by parents of SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) children, Councillor Beverley Fordham explained plans to expand special resource units across Kent's mainstream schools.
These units aim to provide targeted support for "SEN-betweeners", children who struggle to thrive in mainstream school settings but whose needs are not severe enough for placements in specialist schools.
Councillor Beverley Fordham told Greatest Hits and Hits Radio: "We hope to speed up the rollout of these units, of which 55 are either already implemented or planned across the county."
These will offer both "localised, tailored education".
Challenges for SEND families
Parents have highlighted significant issues within the current SEND system, especially concerning children who don't qualify for an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) and are left with limited options.
A mother from Langley, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her family's struggles.
"They the council have tested seventeen schools for my daughter but they all don't meet her needs.
"She has been out of school ever since having a breakdown in mainstream. We now have ten hours of tutoring a week. It's not enough."
She said, "These children are stuck—they look fine on the outside, but they’re constantly battling to cope underneath. There is a massive gap in Kent for their education provisions."
Lengthy delays in processing EHCPs and what many parents describe as "inadequate communication" have also been significant concerns throughout the county.
What are the council doing?
When told about families whose requests for care plans and SEN provisions had been "ignored for months", Councillor Fordham says the Council has "launched a Pilot to streamline communication".
Launched in August 2025, the Pilot aims to better communication between families, partners, and professionals, in the initial stages of EHCP assessments.
Fordham says "it's already showing promising results, improving the communication process efficiency by up to 50%."
"This capacity can now be redirected to focus on doing what families need, rather than solely dealing with administrative processes," Fordham explained.
The pilot is set to continue until December.
Calls on Government
65% of EHCPs in Kent are now processed within the statutory 20-week deadline compared to a 50% national average, according to KCC.
Despite this progress, Councillor Fordham adds: "there is still work to be done" and is calling on the Government for a "fundamental look at the whole EHCP process at a statutory level."
She is also calling for more Government support to deliver new schools for specialist provisions.
"Kent has been waiting for progress on special schools in Swanley and Whitstable since 2023, with no updated timelines yet from the Department for Education."
Fordham added, "We have the land prepared and resources ready but are waiting for government action. With every delay, the associated costs rise. These delays are preventing us from providing the places that children desperately need."
Fordham is also advocating for further improvements to teacher training, noting the need for more robust training to address SEND needs properly.
For families who are struggling with communication from the Council, Fordham said her office remains open:
"I can't get involved in individual cases, but I'm keen to hear concerns and see how we can further shape support. We need to ensure children can grow and learn in environments suitable for their needs without isolating or distracting them from their peers."