News

More than 130 extra children and young people with special needs are being supported by councils every day, new figures reveal, prompting calls for government funding to tackle a growing “national special needs emergency”.

“It is vital the Government’s SEND review urgently tackles the increasingly adversarial nature of the SEND system since the 2014 reforms and minimises the need for legal disputes and tribunal hearings, providing the support that every young person and their family needs."

"Councils have been working hard with their partners to respond to changing and emerging threats to children and young people, including criminal exploitation, through online and virtual contact and resources, as well as high priority home visits."

More than 180 children are placed on child protection plans every day to keep them safe from harm.

Soaring demand to protect vulnerable children at risk of harm has seen spending to provide support increase by almost a quarter in five years, with an upcoming national care review a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to set out long-awaited reform, councils are warning today.

A record number of children with mental health problems were seen by social workers last year, an increase of more than a half in five years, latest figures show.

“Councils want to work with government to prioritise a child-centred recovery plan which offers the brightest future for children and families as we recover from the pandemic – it is essential this plan goes beyond the First 1000 days so that councils can intervene early at whichever stage families need it."

“To further support the education of children with special educational needs and disabilities, the Government should urgently complete its ongoing review of the SEND system"

The number of children with mental health problems seen by social workers has surged by a quarter since before the coronavirus pandemic, amounting to nearly 1,500 kids presenting to councils every week.

More than half of all councils in England are at risk of not being able to meet demand for secondary school places, according to new analysis by the LGA.