SEE YOU IN 2025! 🎉

As 2024 wraps up, thank you for being part of our journey this year. This is our final newsletter of the year, but rest assured, we’ll be back in 2025 with more insights and strategies to keep you ahead in the world of SEND. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Urgent Reforms Needed for England Special Educational Needs Funding Crisis

The special educational needs system in England is financially unsustainable due to a 71% rise in pupils with education, health and care plans. Despite increased funding, local authorities face deficits. Urgent reform is needed to align funding with needs and prevent further financial strain on the system.

SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING

SEND System Requires Urgent Double Funding to Avert Financial Crisis

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has highlighted the urgent need for reform in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) funding system. The current model is financially unsustainable, with council deficits projected to reach £8 billion by 2027. The IFS suggests that transitioning to a new system will require double funding in the short term to meet existing obligations while expanding support in mainstream schools. This transition is complex and costly but deemed necessary to prevent further financial strain and improve equity in education.

The report outlines several reform options, each with its challenges. Maintaining the status quo could lead to widespread local authority bankruptcies. Cost-cutting measures, while partially successful, are insufficient to close the deficits promptly. Removing statutory obligations from Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) could face political resistance due to parental distrust. Increasing capacity in special schools is necessary but slow and expensive. The government favours enhancing support in mainstream schools, yet this requires significant investment in staff, training, and infrastructure.

Ultimately, the IFS stresses the need for a long-term vision to address these issues. Without reform, annual spending could rise by at least £23 billion in three years. The report calls for immediate action to create a sustainable and equitable SEND system, balancing financial constraints with the need to meet educational needs effectively.

SPECIAL EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

For families navigating the SEND process, 2025 is about transforming confusion into clarity. That shift is powered by EHCP Plus, a tool designed to support caseworkers by taking the heavy lifting out of drafting Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs).

• From Blank Pages to First Drafts

Writing an EHCP from scratch takes hours. EHCP Plus simplifies this by providing a thoughtful, data-driven first draft, leaving caseworkers to fine-tune and personalise the final plan. It’s not just about saving time; it’s about ensuring every plan meets the high standards children deserve.

• More Time for Families

When caseworkers spend less time on forms, they can dedicate more energy to working directly with families—listening, understanding, and offering the support that makes all the difference.

• Supporting, Not Replacing

Caseworkers are irreplaceable. EHCP Plus isn’t here to take their place—it’s here to support them. By taking care of the routine elements of EHCP creation, the tool frees up caseworkers to focus on the nuances that only a human touch can provide.

• A Smoother Journey for Parents

Families often describe the SEND process as overwhelming. By streamlining EHCP creation and improving communication, EHCP Plus helps councils guide parents through a clearer, less stressful journey.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Special Schools Role in Inclusion: Are They Being Overlooked?

The Labour push for inclusion in mainstream schools risks sidelining special schools. Experts stress the need for collaboration, recognising special schools expertise. Concerns include inadequate funding and training, and the potential for a fragmented system. A unified approach is essential for effective SEND education.

What We’re Building Towards

In 2025, the real win isn’t just faster processes or better systems—it’s time. Time for social workers to focus on people, time for families to feel heard and supported, and time for councils to plan for the future with confidence.

If I can touch on the more personal side to the work we do, I have been blown away by the developments in government technology over the past year. It seems only a couple of months ago, we were discovering the transformative power of ChatGPT, Claude and other large language models and now we are using artificial intelligence to enhance government functions directly improving citizen outcomes.

While I understand the apprehension that surrounds artificial intelligence, and I agree that in no way should it replace the human touch that is needed in government services, for better citizen outcomes we must utilise AI. For too long, the public sector trails behind our counterparts in the private sector in taking up transformative technology, systems and processes – but no longer. By building a team of genuine experts interested in Gen AI, like we are here at Agilisys Transform – we are taking local governments on a journey for Gen AI excellence and we are looking forward to what the future brings!

Here’s to a future where care is smarter, kinder, and—dare we say it—a little bit easier for everyone involved. Cheers to 2025!

👉 Keep up with Agilisys Transform on their website or on LinkedIn.

SPECIAL EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

How Do You Turn a Crisis of Resources into an Opportunity for Transformation?

The public sector faces rising demand, budget cuts, and inefficiencies—but these challenges are a chance for transformation. Embracing technology, especially AI, can turn constraints into opportunities, reducing administrative burdens and enabling staff to focus on impactful work.

From automating Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) to streamlining workflows, AI demonstrates how innovation can enhance existing systems without costly overhauls. Gradual modernization and cross-department collaboration are key to driving effective change.

By leveraging AI, the public sector can create efficient, citizen-focused services. Discover how these strategies can turn today’s challenges into lasting improvements.

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