Expansion of specialist SEND spaces
There will be more specialist, calm learning spaces in mainstream schools to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the Government announced last month.
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New strategy ‘to end homelessness’
The UK Government has published its long-awaited National Plan to End Homelessness, setting out a long-term, cross-government strategy to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring in England.
Protections for workers ‘must be funded’
The cost to councils of implementing new employment reforms must be matched by new funding or public money could be diverted from vital local services, the LGA has warned.
LGA restructure ‘to empower local leadership’
As first was going to press, the LGA was launching a consultation with staff on restructuring the organisation.
Child poverty strategy published
The Government’s new UK-wide ‘Tackling Child Poverty’ strategy aims to lift more than half a million children out of poverty through measures including expanding childcare for families on Universal Credit, cost savings on baby formula, and ending the long-term placement of families in B&B accommodation.
Budget ‘doesn’t address pressures on council finances’
Local government finances remain “under severe pressure”, the LGA has warned, after last week’s Budget failed to provide significant increased funding.
Government ‘to fund SEND’
The Government has pledged to fund the full cost of provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from 2028/29.
Children in care ‘up 18 per cent’
The number of looked-after children in England is almost 18 per cent higher than 10 years ago, with 81,770 in the care of councils as of 31 March 2025.
Temporary accommodation funding gap ‘to hit £3bn’
The cumulative cost to councils in England of the temporary accommodation subsidy gap could reach £3 billion by the end of the decade, according to new LGA analysis.
New crisis and resilience fund ‘falls short’
Only 2 per cent of councils believe funding for the new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) will be sufficient to meet local welfare needs ‘to a great extent’, according to an LGA survey.