Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: September 17, 2025

Purpose: To seek approval for Gloucestershire County Council’s Education Directorate to continue to act as a joint lead authority, with Swindon Borough Council, in relation to the Department for Education (DfE) Southwest DfE Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Change Partnership Programme, and to accept  Section 31 DfE funding grant for the purpose of funding these arrangements.  

Content: Cllr Linda Cohen sought approval for Gloucestershire County Council’s Education Directorate to continue to act as a joint lead authority, with Swindon Borough Council, in relation to the Department for Education (DfE) Southwest DfE Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Change Partnership Programme, and to accept Section 31 DfE funding grant for the purpose of funding these arrangements.   Having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and RESOLVED to:     1. Approve the receipt by GCC of £2.07 million of Section 31 grant funding from the DfE for the purpose of supporting: GCC’s continued participation as joint lead authority together with Swindon Borough Council in phase 2 of the SEND Change Programme during the period 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026; and   GCC’s continued participation as the financial Lead Authority (LA) under the DfE Change Partnership Programme, whose responsibility it shall continue to be to:   i                 transfer the proportions of the DfE Change Partnership Programme funding set out in the Memorandum of Understanding between the DfE, GCC and Swindon Borough Council to support its participation in the programme during the above period; and   test and refine in partnership with Swindon Borough Council, the DfE proposals for reforming SEND and Alternative Provision described in the i                 DfE Change Partnership Guidance documentation.   2. Approves the execution by GCC of: (a) an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GCC and the DfE relating to piloting and testing of the adjusted proposed SEND system reforms under the Change Partnership Programme; and 3. Approve the maintenance of the partnership arrangement between GCC and Swindon Borough Council relating to their joint leadership of the DfE Change Partnership Programme during the period during the period May 2025 to March 2026. 4. Approve the execution of the updated MoU at Appendix 1 between GCC and Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (GICB) relating to the delivery of the Early Language and Speech Development programme. 1. Delegate authority to GCC’s Director of Education in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to allocate the funding described at 1. for the purpose of: (1) funding the delivery of the second phase reform testing during the period May 2025 to March 2026. i                 (2) awarding any subsidy control regime compliant grants, if required, for the purpose of delivering the reform testing during the period May 2025 to March 2026.