The Cabinet has decided to approve the SEND Sufficiency Strategy 2026-2029 to improve provision for children with SEND and strengthen inclusion in mainstream settings.

URL: https://sandwell.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1201

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The strategy sets out a clear, evidence-based approach to ensuring sufficient, high-quality education provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It responds to increasing demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), insufficient local specialist provision, and the growing reliance on out-of-borough placements

Content: Reasons for Recommendations The Local Authority had a statutory duty under s.14 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure sufficient school places, including appropriate provision for children with SEND.   This duty was further reinforced through the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice (2014)   The strategy responded to several interrelated challenges, including rising numbers of Education, Health and Care Plans, increasing complexity of need, insufficient specialist capacity within the borough and a continued reliance on high?cost independent and out?of?area placements. These pressures contributed to significant financial challenges within the High Needs Block and impacting the Council’s ability to deliver sustainable provision. The proposed approach would support the development of additional local specialist capacity, strengthen inclusion within mainstream settings, enable more sustainable use of public resources and improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.   The strategy also operationalised national reforms by embedding consistent commissioning standards, transparent placement pathways, and equitable access across the borough.   The Council was working with Newton Europe as its SEND transformation partner to support delivery of a sustainable and high?quality SEND system. This partnership strengthens the Council’s strategic planning, demand forecasting and service design capability, enabling a more coordinated approach across education, health and care and ensuring that resources are directed effectively to meet increasing levels of need.   Alternative Options Considered Option 1 – Do nothing. This option would not enable the Council to meet its statutory duties in relation to SEND sufficiency and would result in continued growth in demand for high?cost out?of?borough placements. It would also fail to respond to national policy direction and improvement expectations. This option was therefore not recommended.   Option 2 – Implement a partial or incremental approach. This option would involve delivering elements of the strategy in a limited or phased way without full system transformation. Whilst this may provide some short?term improvement, it would not address the scale of demand, would limit the ability to achieve financial sustainability and would not deliver the level of change required across the SEND system. This option was therefore not recommended.   Resolved that approval is given for the SEND Sufficiency Strategy 2026–2029, to allow for a strategic approach to improving SEND sufficiency, including the development of local specialist provision and strengthened mainstream inclusion.  

Date of Decision: July 15, 2026