SEND- York council unveils reforms amid national changes

York Council’s SEND Reform Plan, which is backed by £3.6 million in Government funding, is set to go before the authority’s executive on Tuesday, June 2.

It includes proposals to create a new team of professionals including speech and language therapists, psychologists and others to provide early support to children.

Cllr Bob Webb, the council’s Labour children’s spokesperson, said the plan aimed to ensure that all children are valued, included and supported to fulfil their own potential.

It follows the unveiling of national SEND reforms by the Government in February.

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Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the current SEND system was broken and left families fighting for entitlements on paper that did not get them additional support.

She added the Government’s new plans would see SEND children go from being sidelined and excluded to being seen, heard and included.

National reform proposals include digitising Education, Health and Care Plans (ECHPs) and Individual Support Plans (ISPs), updating the school complaints process and putting special schools under a new regulatory regime.

City of York Council stated the reforms represented the most significant change for children’s services and education in more than a decade.

Plans for York include using funding to support mainstream schools to be more inclusive while working alongside specialist provision.

A new £1.3 million Experts at Hand service would see professionals provide support in mainstream schools.

There are also plans to support staff across early years, schools and post-16 to complete a national training programme which includes identifying children who need support early.

York’s plans would be subject to checks from the Department for Education before their final approval.

Cllr Webb said they wanted to make improvements for SEND children happen.

Cllr Bob Webb, Labour executive member for children, young people and education on York Council (Image: City of York Council)

The executive member said: “School should be a place where all children and young people feel that they belong and this is something that we want to make happen.

“This draft Local Reform Plan sets out how we, along with schools, can ensure that they are valued, included, and supported to achieve their full potential.”

Speaking after the unveiling of national reform proposals, Education Secretary Ms Phillipson said how a child grows up should not dictate where they end up.

The secretary of state said: “The SEND system designed 10 years ago for a small number of children is now broken.

“Parents end up fighting tooth and nail for entitlements on paper that don’t see them getting additional support, children’s educations and lives have suffered.

“Today’s plans will see every child get the brilliant support they deserve, when they need it, as routine and without a fight.”