Councillors at the Children and Young People Committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday 26 November) have noted a new strategy to adopt an ‘Inclusion for All’ approach for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Members discussed how children would be supported as early as possible, to enable children with additional needs to engage and thrive in education , whilst making better use of public funds.
The Committee also noted the update on key activity and progress with the Safety Valve programme, as well as local funding arrangements.
Cllr Bryony Goodliffe, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People Committee said: “We are committed to ensuring all children and young people are able to thrive. However, like many other councils, Cambridgeshire is experiencing significant pressures in both the increased demand for and the costs of supporting children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities.
“We have experienced almost a 50% increase in demand for education and health care plans being required over the last 5 years. A huge amount of time and effort is being put in to responding to and addressing this increased need.
“We are doing all we can locally to manage the increased pressures on funding as result of this rising demand. We have recently submitted a revised Safety Valve proposal to the Department for Education to help the council to manage these dual pressures of rising demand and costs.
“If agreed by Education Ministers, this proposal will support us to address our high needs block financial deficit and, at the same time, enable us to reform our approach to delivering special education needs and disability services, over the next 5 years.
“By working to ensure that children are supported as soon as possible, we will deliver better outcomes and prevent needs escalating further, whilst making better use of public funds.”
