THIS WEEK’S RADAR🎯

• LGA Drinks Reception: Join SEND and digital leaders to explore how GenAI is transforming EHCPs and care delivery.

• EHCP Delays in Bucks: Council ordered to compensate over psychologist shortages and missed assessment timelines.

• DfE’s £3.3B SEND Action Plan: Urgent reforms promise clarity and sustainability — but delivery speed will be key.

• Funding Reform Fears: Proposed SEND shake-up may strip schools of guarantees, risking staff cuts and instability.

• Coventry’s £103M Investment: Major funding boost to expand mainstream and special education infrastructure.

• Agilisys Welcomes Avril K: New hire brings frontline EHCP expertise to shape AI tools built with SEND professionals.

LGA EVENT

You're Invited: UK GovTech Drinks Reception on Gen AI Transformation​

📅 Wednesday 2nd July​

🕕 6:15 – 7:45 PM​

📍Clockwise, Liverpool (5 mins from the ACC Liverpool – venue of the LGA Conference)​

Are you a SEND or Digital Leader attending Local Government Association Conference in Liverpool? ​

Join us for a drinks and canapes reception hosted by UK GovTech to explore and celebrate the growing role of Generative AI in Children’s and Adults' Services.​

This reception will bring together leaders from local government to share knowledge, reflect on the accomplishments of pioneering councils, and connect over the opportunities GenAI presents for public service delivery.

Come and enjoy drinks and nibbles, meet peers driving innovation, and help shape the future of AI in Children’s and Adult’s Social Care.​

🔗 Register your interest here.​

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Buckinghamshire Council Faces Payout Over EHCP Delays Amid Psychologist Shortage

Buckinghamshire Council is compensating a mother due to significant delays in completing her child's EHCP, caused partly by a shortage of educational psychologists. The Ombudsman criticized the council for not adhering to mandatory timelines and has mandated compensatory payments to address frustration and uncertainty. This case highlights ongoing systemic issues in the council's handling of EHCP assessments.

EDUCATION FUNDING CRISIS

DfE's Urgent Action Plan to Address SEND Funding and System Crisis

The Department for Education's urgent reform plans aim to address the £3.3 billion deficit in England's SEND high-needs budgets by 2026. Proposed measures include improved understanding of SEND demand, decision-making enhancements, clear inclusion standards, workforce improvements, and sustainable spending strategies. Timely implementation is essential to prevent local authority bankruptcies and ensure the quality education and support for all SEND children.

SEND FUNDING CONCERNS

SEND Shake-Up Sparks Fears Of Classroom Chaos And Reduced Support

Proposed changes to the SEND system in England may strip mainstream schools of legal funding guarantees for SEND, risking fewer support staff and potential chaos. This could lead to greater absenteeism and a scramble for special school places, endangering tailored support for vulnerable children. Urgent solutions are necessary to prevent adverse impacts on educational environments.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Coventry Awarded £103 Million For Education Expansion And Infrastructure

Coventry receives a record £103 million in government funding to expand school capacity and infrastructure by 2028 due to a rise in pupil numbers. This investment will create new secondary and special education places, including net-zero buildings, addressing the growing educational demands in the city.

IN OTHER NEWS

Agilisys is proud to welcome Avril K to the team as they continue their mission to transform SEND services across the UK.​

A highly experienced EHCP expert and former SEND Caseworker, Avril brings over six years of frontline experience across multiple local authorities. ​

​Her work has spanned the full EHCP process — from writing plans to leading on Tribunal cases — giving her a deep, practical understanding of the challenges faced by local teams.​ Avril’s appointment reflects Agilisys’s commitment to ensuring that SEND professionals are at the heart of developing how AI can support EHCP creation, assurance, and Annual Reviews. ​

👉 Explore Avril’s perspective on tech in SEND.

YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS🗳️