Weekly Newsletter - 13.06.2024

Hertfordshire Council Compensates Student for Missed Speech Therapy

Author

UKGovTech
June 13, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

 School Funding

Union data reveals that two in three special schools have experienced real-terms funding cuts since 2010. The School Cuts campaign reports that 582 out of 883 special schools have seen their budgets reduced, with a total spending power loss of £419 million. The campaign calls for an additional £12.2 billion in school funding from the next government to address these cuts and the crisis in SEND funding. Union leaders stress the urgent need for proper investment to support the education and development of all children, especially those with special needs.

Community Engagement

Devon County Council is holding drop-in sessions throughout June to consult parents and carers on the proposed transition from Children's Centres to Family Hubs. These sessions, organised with Action for Children, aim to gather feedback and provide information on the new Family Hubs, which will offer broader support for children aged 0-19, or up to 25 for those with special needs. The Family Hubs will provide universal access to services without third-party referrals and will work closely with local care providers. The consultation runs until 3 July.

Local Government & Education

Essex County Council has declared an "extreme emergency" due to a severe backlog in assessing children for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The council had allocated over £1 million to hire additional educational psychologists, but the chosen supplier failed to meet the required capacity. Consequently, the council now needs an additional £171,000 for a new supplier. Currently, only 1% of SEND assessments in Essex are completed within the 20-week deadline, with over 1,000 children awaiting assessment. The council attributes the backlog to a national shortage of educational psychologists and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Charity & Support

Childline, a service by the NSPCC, delivers more than 500 counselling sessions daily to young people in the UK, addressing issues like mental health and family relationships. As part of its third annual Childhood Day, the charity encourages families to join fundraising activities. In 2023/24, Childline conducted 188,000 sessions, with many youths using online platforms. The event aims to raise funds to keep Childline operational and promote family bonding. Sponsors like Lidl GB and O2 support the initiative, emphasising the importance of safe spaces for children.

Mental Health & Education

A study by Public First, commissioned by Citizens UK and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), suggests that universal access to school counselling could pay for itself within a decade. The research indicates that every £1 invested could yield an £8 return through improved job prospects and attendance. The policy could generate lifetime fiscal benefits of £1.9 billion against a cost of £250 million. The study highlights the need for 5,300 counsellors to deliver 4.4 million sessions, addressing the 'missing middle' of children below NHS mental health treatment thresholds.

Local Government & Education

Hertfordshire County Council has agreed to pay £4,300 to a student after failing to provide speech and language therapy as outlined in her Education Health and Care Plan. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the student had not received the required support for over three years. The council will also arrange an immediate assessment and make monthly payments if further therapy is needed. The council acknowledged the oversight and committed to reviewing its EHCP processes to prevent future lapses.

School Administration

Birmingham City Council will withdraw its schools from a problematic £100m Oracle IT system that left headteachers unable to plan budgets and facing bailiffs due to unpaid bills. Introduced in April 2022, the system was plagued with issues, causing significant financial strain and operational inefficiencies. An investigation revealed over 8,000 logged issues within six months. Senior councillors have voted to transition schools to an alternative system by September next year. The council remains committed to supporting schools through this transition while continuing to use the system for other council operations.