UPCOMING EVENT

Calling all SEND Caseworkers and EHC Plan Writers!​

Interested in exploring how Generative AI is transforming SEND services? Agilisys has got the session for you! ​

Agilisys is hosting an in person event for SEND caseworkers designed to help you get the most from our EHCP tool, build confidence in using generative AI, and connect with peers across other local authorities.​

📍 Scale Space, White City, London

📅 13/05/2025 | 🕒 9:30 - 11:30am | Refreshments Included​

Please RSVP by 5th May

EDUCATION REFORM

Labour Considers Major SEND Reforms Including Potential Cuts To Support Services

Labour has unveiled plans to address the SEND crisis in England by reversing recent funding cuts and improving support for children and families. Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson outlined a commitment to rebuild early intervention services and end the delays families face in securing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The party’s proposals include boosting local authority resources, reforming the EHCP process, and introducing new accountability measures to ensure support is delivered effectively. The initiative aims to tackle a system that many describe as broken, with growing demand, long wait times, and insufficient provision across the country.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE

Plymouth Council Faces Bankruptcy Risk From Mounting Special Educational Needs Debt

Plymouth City Council is confronting a potentially catastrophic financial situation, with a SEND deficit of £48m threatening insolvency. Rapid growth in EHCPs—a 40% increase in requests since 2022—has dramatically outpaced available funding, reflecting a nationwide crisis where councils collectively face rising SEND debts and at least 18 have already flagged insolvency risks.

AI IN LOCAL COUNCILS

💡How Can Councils Embrace AI Without Compromising Trust, Ethics or Inclusion?​

The LGA and LOTI’s new guide on Responsible Buying of AI is a must-read for anyone working in local government digital transformation.​

Agilisys, with 25 years of experience supporting councils across the UK, has published a thoughtful response. It highlights practical ways to implement AI responsibly — from framing the right procurement questions to involving frontline teams and treating DPIAs as design tools, not paperwork.​

🗣 Ethan, Pippa and Ross from the Agilisys team share what responsible AI really looks like in practice.​

📖 Read their full response here.

EDITOR’S INSIGHT💭

SEND Funding: Beyond the Headlines—Strategic Insights for Sustainable Provision

The current narrative around SEND funding often centres on crisis, but for those shaping policy and commissioning services, the real challenge is navigating complexity with foresight. Funding shortfalls are not just numbers—they manifest as fractured support pathways, workforce attrition, and lost trust among families. Yet, the data we rely on is often outdated or too broad, masking localised needs and perpetuating inefficient resource allocation.

What if we reimagined SEND funding as a dynamic ecosystem rather than a static budget line? Some local authorities are piloting predictive analytics to anticipate demand surges, enabling more agile deployment of resources. Others are forging cross-sector alliances, blending statutory funding with targeted community investment to buffer against volatility. These approaches move beyond reactive firefighting, offering a blueprint for resilience.

The risk of narrowing provision through school-based expansion is real—diversity in settings underpins innovation and accessibility, especially for the most complex needs. Protecting this diversity requires not just policy safeguards but active partnership with voluntary and private providers, whose local intelligence is often undervalued in strategic planning.

For leaders, the imperative is to champion data-driven decision-making, invest in workforce stability, and foster transparent communication with families. The future of SEND provision will be shaped by those willing to challenge assumptions, pilot new models, and share learning across boundaries. In a landscape defined by uncertainty, strategic curiosity and collaboration are our most valuable assets.

PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM

Dudley Council Details SEND Improvement Plan Following Critical Ofsted Inspection

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE

Norfolk Council’s SEND Support Debt Projected To Exceed £180 Million

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS

Using AI Responsibly in SEND Services

We have an exciting upcoming webinar where you can learn about how councils are using AI responsibly with Agilisys EHCP. ​

With the Local Government Association (LGA) and London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) releasing a new resource on supporting local authorities use AI responsibly – there is no better time than the present to learn about how councils can use AI responsibly to improve their SEND and children’s services provision​

📅Wed 7th May, 10-11am

📍Webinar

YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS🗳️