South Gloucestershire Council has welcomed government approval of its Local SEND Reform Plan, marking a significant milestone in improving support and outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The government confirmed that the partnership’s plan has met the required threshold for approval and demonstrates a real commitment to delivering important local SEND reforms.
The plan, developed jointly by South Gloucestershire Council, health partners, education providers, parent carers and young people, sets out how services will be transformed over the next three years to create a more inclusive, responsive and sustainable SEND system.
The reforms aim to ensure children and young people receive support earlier, closer to home and within their local communities wherever possible. Key priorities include strengthening inclusive practice in mainstream schools, expanding specialist support through a new ‘experts at hand’ model, increasing specialist provision within mainstream settings, improving post-16 opportunities, and embedding stronger co-production with families.
Government approval also means South Gloucestershire will be eligible to receive a High Needs Stability Grant worth approximately £50.3 million. This funding will help support the long-term sustainability of SEND services while reforms are delivered.
Councillor Ian Boulton, cabinet member for education, skills, employment and business at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We are delighted that the government has approved South Gloucestershire’s SEND Reform Plan. This is a strong endorsement of the work that has been undertaken by partners across education, health, social care, and most importantly with children, young people and their families.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their potential and thrive. This plan will strengthen inclusion, improve early support, increase access to specialist expertise and create more opportunities for children and young people with SEND to succeed close to home.
“Approval of the plan is an important milestone, but it is only the beginning. We are committed to working together with our partners and communities to turn these ambitions into real improvements in the experiences and outcomes of children and young people and their families across South Gloucestershire.”
David Jarrett, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategic Commissioning Officer at NHS Gloucestershire ICB and NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB cluster, said: “We are pleased that the government has approved South Gloucestershire’s SEND Reform Plan, which reflects the strong commitment of partners and families to creating a more inclusive and responsive system. By working together, we will strengthen early support, improve access to specialist health expertise and help more children and young people with SEND to thrive in their local communities.
“We look forward to building on this important milestone and turning the plan’s ambitions into lasting improvements for children, young people and their families.”
The council’s vision is that every child has the best start in life and can thrive, with the right support available at the right time. Over the next three years, South Gloucestershire and its partners will focus on delivering the commitments set out in the plan, including expanding specialist support within mainstream education, creating additional specialist places close to home, improving pathways into adulthood and ensuring families play a central role in shaping services.
