The Education, SEND & Inclusion Cabinet Panel of Hertfordshire Council met on Wednesday 9 September 2026 to discuss the SEND Provision Plan, capital funding for post-16 SEND places, and progress on the SEND Strategy. The panel recommended the adoption of the SEND Provision Plan 2026-2029 and approved significant capital investment for post-16 SEND provision across four colleges. They also received an update on the SEND Strategy's progress and noted the Children's Services Annual Compliments and Complaints Report.

SEND Provision Plan 2026-2029 Adopted

The panel recommended to Cabinet the adoption of the draft SEND Provision Plan 2026-2029. This plan, developed through extensive engagement with over 400 children and young people, parents, carers, schools, and partners, aims to create a more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable SEND system. It is built around five key pillars: strengthening capacity in mainstream schools, expanding specialist capacity within mainstream schools, creating more special school places, updating special school designations, and ensuring child-centred placements. Stakeholders broadly supported the plan's priorities, with strong backing for increasing special school places and specialist provision within mainstream schools. The plan will be published and implemented, with progress monitored through the SEND Reform Plan performance framework. The panel also agreed that the Executive Director for Children's Services & Education, in consultation with the Executive Member for Education, SEND and Inclusion, would be authorised to initiate statutory consultations to include Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) within the designation of existing Learning Difficulties (LD) schools, creating Complex Cognition and Learning schools. The Local Offer will be updated to reflect the plan.

Capital Funding Approved for Post-16 SEND Places

The panel approved capital funding totalling £21.045 million for four projects across Hertfordshire's further education colleges to expand post-16 SEND provision. This funding will increase the overall SEND capital programme by £7.32 million to £147.34 million, reflecting additional High Needs Capital Grant received. The projects include:

• Hertford Regional College: £3.25 million for an extension to the Millbrook Building, creating 35 new specialist places.
• North Hertfordshire College: £6.5 million for a two-phase development, including a modular facility and a purpose-built SEND teaching facility, to create 50 additional specialist places.
• Oaklands College: £9 million for a new purpose-built Springfield High Needs Centre, expanding capacity from 100 to 140 places for learners with the most complex needs.
• West Herts College: £1.2 million to adapt existing accommodation across its Watford and Hemel Hempstead campuses to create more inclusive learning environments, particularly for learners with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

This investment aims to increase local capacity, reduce reliance on expensive independent and out-of-county placements, and improve outcomes for young people with SEND as they prepare for adulthood.

SEND Strategy Progress Update

An update was provided on the progress of Hertfordshire's SEND Strategy 2026-2029, covering the period from April to September 2026. The report highlighted measurable service improvements despite continuing growth in demand and complexity of need. Key achievements included earlier support for children and young people, the creation of more local provision with 40 new specialist places opened and around 300 more planned, and improvements in statutory SEND services, with 95.8% of new EHC Plans issued within 20 weeks. Partnership working and co-production remain central, with significant engagement from children, young people, and parent carers. However, challenges persist, including rising appeals, high waiting times for some health services, and an increasing number of children educated outside their recommended specialist setting for over 12 months. Children with SEND continue to be overrepresented in reduced timetables, children missing education, and exclusions.

Children's Services Annual Compliments and Complaints Report Noted

The panel noted the Children's Services Annual Compliments and Complaints Report for 2025-2026. The report indicated an increase in total representations received, with a rise in informal complaints and Stage 1 complaints. Positively, a greater proportion of concerns were resolved informally at an early stage. Response timescales for complaints significantly improved, with 83% met within statutory limits. Stage 2 investigations increased, and while Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) complaints also rose, the number of upheld complaints and compensation awarded decreased. The main themes for complaints were delays/communication issues, dissatisfaction with workers, and issues with care plans/assessments. Compliments decreased by 14%, with a notable shift in the distribution between Social Care and Education services.

Work Programme for 2026/27 Considered

The panel reviewed the draft work programme for 2026/27. Several items were noted for future discussion, including reports on Colnbrook, approval to commence statutory consultation for specialist provision in mainstream schools, the School Improvement Strategy, budget considerations, the Annual Virtual School Report, and Hertfordshire County Council Admission Arrangements for 2027/28. The panel also noted that Best Start in Life would be discussed in March, and the Rural and Small Schools Resilience Strategy was confirmed to be on its way. The possibility of a briefing note on the impact of independent school closures on state schools was also raised.