Council submits draft SEND reform plan to Government
Reforms will secure long-term support for children and young people with additional needs.
West Berkshire Council has submitted its draft Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform plan to Government, marking an important step in securing long-term support for children and young people with additional needs.
The submission forms part of the Government's national SEND reform programme, which is designed to improve outcomes for children and young people while creating a more sustainable system for funding high needs provision. Central to this is the High Needs Block - the funding councils receive to support pupils with additional needs - which has been under increasing pressure nationally in recent years.
Through this reform programme, councils are being asked to develop plans that set out how support can be improved while bringing high needs spending onto a more sustainable footing over time. If approved, West Berkshire's Local SEND Reform Plan would make the Council eligible for a significant package of financial support worth up to £27 million from Government. This could include a grant to address the majority of the Council's historic High Needs-related Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit up to 31 March 2026, alongside access to additional funding to help deliver SEND transformation and strengthen inclusive provision locally.
The Council has developed its draft plan over recent months, working closely with families, schools, health partners and other organisations. This engagement has helped shape priorities, ensuring the plan reflects the real experiences of children, young people and those who support them.
The submission is not the end of the process. Subject to Government feedback, the Council will continue to refine and develop the plan, with co‑production playing a central role in the next phase. This will include deeper involvement from families and partners to help design solutions that work for West Berkshire communities.
Councillor Heather Codling, Executive Member for Children and Young People, said:
"Submitting our draft SEND reform plan is an important milestone and reflects a huge amount of work by officers, partners, families and young people across West Berkshire. I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed their time, insight and lived experience so far.
"We know how important it is to get this right. These reforms give us an opportunity not only to create a more sustainable system, but to genuinely improve services for children and young people with additional needs.
"There is still more to do, and co‑production will be at the heart of how we take this forward. By continuing to work together, we can build a system that delivers the right support, in the right place, at the right time."
The final version of the SEND Reforms plan will be submitted to the Government next month.
