The Executive Councillor for Children's Services, Prue Bray, formally signed off on the Wokingham SEND Reform Plan, which is set to be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE). This decision was made to align with the critical delivery timelines associated with SEND reform and to ensure the plan's submission by the national deadline.

SEND Reform Plan Approved for Submission

Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Children's Services, Prue Bray, approved the formal sign-off of the Wokingham SEND Reform Plan. This plan is a crucial framework for implementing national SEND reforms locally, aiming to create a more inclusive, fair, consistent, and sustainable system for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The plan will now be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) by the deadline of 19 June 2026.

The decision to approve the plan was made despite the compressed timeframe, which meant the standard 28-day notice period could not be met. This was necessary to align with the DfE's delivery timelines and to maintain momentum in system-wide delivery. Delaying consideration would have risked missing the submission deadline. The report noted that all reasonable steps had been taken to ensure appropriate engagement and oversight within the available timeframe.

The SEND Reform Plan has been developed by the Local Area SEND Partnership, involving extensive engagement with local authority officers, schools, health partners, social care, early years providers, further education institutions, and crucially, children, young people, and their families. The plan outlines a multi-tiered approach to support, starting with a universal offer accessible to all, followed by targeted, targeted plus, and specialist support levels for those with additional needs. A key component of the reform is the Experts at Hand offer, designed to strengthen the capability of mainstream education settings to meet SEND needs more effectively by providing access to specialist support from education and health experts.

The plan also addresses financial implications, with the successful sign-off expected to clear approximately £46 million of the historic High Needs Block cumulative deficit, the interest of which is currently being paid from Wokingham Borough Council's General Fund. The implementation costs for the first two years are projected to be £1.9 million and £2.8 million respectively, with funding secured through grants and reserves. A further £2.5 million is anticipated for the third year, potentially requiring Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) growth.

The decision was supported by Emma Cockerell, Executive Director of Children's Services, and Jamie Conran, Head of SEND, who were present at the meeting. Neil Carr from Democratic Services also attended. The report indicated no conflicts of interest were declared by any Executive Member consulted.

The SEND Reform Plan itself is a comprehensive document detailing the strategy for transforming SEND services in Wokingham Borough. It aligns with the national SEND reform agenda, as outlined in the DfE's Schools White Paper, Every child achieving and thriving, and the subsequent public consultation. The plan aims to ensure that children and young people's needs are identified early and met effectively across education, health, and care services, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable system. The plan is available to view online¹.