Gloucestershire County Council's cabinet today (November 22) approved taking part in a change programme for special educational needs (SEN).

The Department for Education (DfE) announced earlier this year that the county council would participate in the DfE South West SEND Change Partnership Programme (CPP), in partnership with Swindon Borough Council.

Back in March, the DfE published its SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan, with the strapline of Right support, right place, right time.

The document set out proposals for reform to the SEND system across England.

Introducing the programme to cabinet members, Cllr Philip Robinson, cabinet member for education, said: "It's definitely the case that reforms are needed. It's been widely acknowledged that the current SEND system leaves much to be desired.

"The CPP is the programme which will pilot and test the proposed reforms with a view to making sure that they're informed by the real experiences of real families before any changes in legislation or national rollout of changes.

"I'm delighted that our county has been invited to take part in the CPP. It means the needs of Gloucestershire's children and their families will be heard at the highest level of government and that those needs will shape the future of SEND."

Taking part in the programme comes with £5.8m funding, to be split with Swindon Borough Council, from September 2023 to April 2025.

Cllr Robinson continued: "Locally and nationally, the current SEND system is simply unsustainable. We've got rapid growth in the level of need, both in terms of the numbers and complexity of the need.

"The parental views of mainstream education have shifted. There's a lack of confidence that mainstream schools can meet the needs of children with SEND. Education, health and care services are all under significant pressure and nationally the high needs deficit is around £3.5 billion.

"So the upshot of all those pressures means that we simply have to change things to improve the experience of children and young people and their families, when it comes to the issue of SEND."

Here in Gloucestershire, work is underway to improve SEND services and the improvement activity is already mapped and aligned with the CPP work.

Cllr Robinson concluded: "Taking part in the CPP is very good news indeed for Gloucestershire. We're very clear about our strengths and areas for development and we've got robust plans in place to drive the necessary improvement and participation. The CPP can only add value and resource to that work which is already in train.

"I'm looking forward to building a local SEND system that will provide much improved outcomes for our children and their families, which is what it's all about."