The Children and Young People Policy Development Committee met to discuss Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in mainstream education, receiving a presentation on the support available for children with additional needs in mainstream schools. Councillors also received updates on the SEND inspection priority action plan, and school place planning. The committee agreed to include a report on school place planning at their next meeting.

SEND in Mainstream Education

Angela Wellings, Director of SEND and Inclusion, gave a presentation on SEND in mainstream education, focusing on 'ordinarily available provision' (OAP) and the graduated approach to supporting children with additional needs.

Ordinarily Available Provision

Ordinarily Available Provision refers to the support and adaptations that are expected to be in place in mainstream schools for children with additional needs. This includes teaching methods, resources, and adaptations to the learning environment. The Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice outline the responsibilities of schools in providing this support. Examples of OAP include:

• Flexible seating arrangements
• Assistive technology
• Flexible scheduling
• Differentiated instruction
• Clear and effective communication

Graduated Approach

The graduated approach involves a cycle of assess, plan, do, and review to identify and meet the needs of children with SEND. Schools receive delegated funding, including an amount of £6,000, to support this approach before requesting additional funding from the local authority.

SEND Statistics

The presentation included statistics on the number of pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and those on SEND support in Redbridge. As of 2025, 11.1% of children in mainstream schools were on SEND support, and 4.3% had EHCPs. These numbers have increased since 2017, reflecting a national trend. The overspend on the high needs block¹ nationally is £6 billion, with Redbridge having a cumulative deficit of £3.9 million.

Primary and Secondary Needs

The data also highlighted the primary needs of children with SEND in primary and secondary schools. Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs are increasingly prevalent, along with speech, language and communication needs, moderate learning difficulties, and specific learning difficulties.

Future Plans

The council plans to refresh guidance for the local area, working with stakeholders to co-produce parent-friendly information on OAP and expected standards in schools.

Questions and Discussion

Councillors raised questions about the timeliness of EHCP applications, the impact of the SEND inspection, and how to improve SEND provision in the borough. Councillor Martin Sachs asked:

What can we do that will help the process that you're leading on to get send provision in this borough to where it needs to be?

Angela Wellings, Director of SEND and Inclusion, responded that councillors should continue to hold the council to account through scrutiny and by raising concerns from their constituents.

SEND Inspection Priority Action Plan

Angela Wellings, Director of SEND and Inclusion, provided an update on the SEND inspection priority action plan, which has been approved by the Department for Education (DFE). The plan addresses the issues raised in the recent SEND inspection and includes actions to improve co-production, data management, and partnership working. The council has committed £1.7 million over three years, with additional funding expected from health partners and the DFE. The plan will be reviewed by the DFE in January, with a monitoring inspection scheduled within 18 months.

School Place Planning

Councillor Alex Holmes raised the issue of school place planning, noting the falling birth rate in Redbridge and the need to ensure sufficient school places in the right areas of the borough. He requested a report on school place planning at the next committee meeting. The committee agreed to include a report on school place planning at their next meeting on 15 January 2026.

Delayed Payments to Schools

Councillor Joel Anthony Herga raised a concern about delayed payments to primary schools for SEND provisions. The council has a new high needs accountant, Sadiq Yakub Kothia, who is working to address a backlog and ensure timely payments to schools. Councillor Sadiq Yakub Kothia is working systematically through the problems that had occurred to try and stop it happening again.