Amid increasing funding pressures and demand, councils are working to deliver comprehensive health, care and education support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
With pandemic disruption increasing the number of children experiencing speech and language difficulties, policymakers are stepping up early intervention efforts to address communication needs.
An important decision from the Upper Tribunal has upheld a holistic interpretation of section 9 of the Education Act 1996, the general principle that children will be educated in accordance with their parents’ wishes, with a duty on the local authority to specify the parent’s preferred school in a child’s education, health and care plan (EHCP) if it is considered suitable for their needs, offers “efficient” education and avoids unreasonable public expenditure.