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“Youth services have a vital role to play in providing young people with safe spaces to go and trusted relationships with adults who can help them make positive life choices and avoid being drawn into negative situations during and after the pandemic."

“The pandemic has taken its toll on children and young people, including their education and social routines, but this disruption has been worse for those with special educational needs and disabilities"

Council leaders say these figures prove why it is vital the Chancellor announces new funding for children’s services in Monday’s Autumn Budget.

Mainstream schools should be incentivised to take in more children with special needs, to ensure the country offers a more inclusive education system, say councils.

Councils stand ready to help the Government prioritise disadvantaged pupils in its education recovery plan and to prevent the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and young people and their peers from widening further as a result of the pandemic.

“It is clear that demand for places is significantly higher during this national lockdown, meaning schools have been placed in the invidious position of balancing safe pupil numbers in school with the higher expectations of the delivery of up to five hours a day of lessons online.”

"No young person should have to go hungry and ensuring vulnerable pupils are provided for is a top priority for councils."

“Ensuring vulnerable pupils are provided for is a top priority for councils with many delivering high quality food boxes in partnership with schools."

"It is good the Government has acted on our call for councils to be allowed to establish their own multi-academy trusts. This recognises the important role of councils as education partners and enables maintained schools to continue enjoying a close working relationship with their council."

Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, responds to analysis by the Children’s Commissioner on children’s mental health services.