Children’s minister promises SEND reform
Speaking at the LGA’s annual conference in Harrogate in October, Ms Daby also pledged to “deliver the change that is needed” to the system of support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Ms Daby was introduced by Cllr Arooj Shah, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, who said councils were looking for “adequate funding” and “powers and levers” to allow them to respond early to problems, instead of the “crisis approach” of the past 14 years.
Also speaking at the same session was Debbie Barnes, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council, who called for “hard powers” for local authorities to ensure schools are more inclusive.
Ms Daby, a former social worker and former councillor and deputy mayor of the London Borough of Lewisham, told delegates: “I’m not going to promise anything I can’t deliver, but I can promise this is a child-centred government.”
Outlining the Government’s commitment to “change things for the better”, she cited changes already in hand, including: new guidance on kinship care; the ending of one-word Ofsted inspection judgements; regional improvement teams to drive high and rising standards; the forthcoming Children’s Wellbeing Bill; the national curriculum and assessment review in England; breakfast clubs; plans for 3,000 school-based nurseries; and work to improve recruitment and retention of social workers.
Referencing the National Audit Office’s recent report on support for children with SEND (see p4), which found that, despite increased investment, the system is still not delivering better outcomes for children and young people, Ms Daby promised “no more sticking plasters” and a “greater focus on mainstream provision and early intervention”.
She also highlighted the need to tackle children’s social workers’ workload, and the rising cost of children’s care placements, adding: “Local authorities are facing rising costs to place children in care, with some private providers making excessive profits. That’s unacceptable and we will change this.”
The minister highlighted the “really excellent work” she had seen in visits to local authorities, and encouraged delegates to continue talking to her and each other to find new inspiration and ways of working together, concluding: “I want you to know that I’m on your side.”
Debbie Barnes, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council, said it was “refreshing” to hear about the minister’s ambitions for children and young people, and said local authorities wanted to be “generous with our views and experience to help shape policy”.
She said councils were ideally placed to act as convenors of local SEND systems but need certainty on funding, clarity on roles and responsibilities – including those of health services and schools – and levers and “hard powers” to hold schools to account for provision.
She also welcomed the Government’s focus on reforming early years, but added: “We need a focus on workforce development in early years or we won’t be able to deliver the reforms.”