SEND system needs cross-party reform
Change is sorely needed for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Change is sorely needed for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
It is an honour to be writing my first magazine article (no pun intended!) as the new LGA Independent Group Leader – and following the LGA’s annual conference in Liverpool, I want to reiterate my commitments as the new group leader.
Spending Review delivers on some key LGA asks, but severe financial pressures remain
A workaround allowing councils with responsibility for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to balance their books will continue after March to 2028, the Government has confirmed.
Effective resource management is one of the biggest challenges facing councils. Recruiting and retaining professional expertise is vital to meet the needs of local communities but today at least eight out of 10 planning departments are short of staff.
A major report on sentencing does not appreciate the significant role councils play in managing risk and supporting offenders outside custody, the LGA has warned.
Almost every council in England continues to struggle to recruit and retain key frontline staff, including children’s and adults’ social workers, according to an LGA workforce survey.