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# Government approves plans to improve SEND provision across Staffordshire
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/government-approves-plans-to-improve-send-provision-across-staffordshire/
- Published: 2026-10-09T06:45:59.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-09T06:45:59.000Z
- Description: Agreement will unlock £85million of funding to help clear debt – but authority expects further overspend in current year.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Education, News, Politics

PLANS to improve provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities across Staffordshire have been approved by the Government.

Backing for the development plan means £85million of funding will be released to cover some of the debt built up by Staffordshire County Council as rising demand from pupils for SEND services outstrips funding.

Staffordshire’s Reform Plan was jointly submitted by the county council and the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board.

The proposals include delivering support in local communities rather than requiring travel over long distances, better collaboration between stakeholders, the provision of appropriate help in mainstream schools and work to reduce the exclusion and suspension of pupils with SEND in the education system.

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Cllr Janet Higgins, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for Education and SEND, said:

> "Staffordshire’s plan has been backed by Government and we’re already working hard with schools and the health service to deliver it and provide a better experience all the way through from nought to 25.  
>  
> "Some of these changes will take time to bear fruit, which is why we have spent £500,000 on providing extra staff to target delays in agreeing Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP), committed funding for 48 more special school places and created 43 supported places in mainstream schools."

In the last six years, the number of children and young people with an EHCP specifying support has risen by 50% to almost 11,400.

The £85million to be paid to Staffordshire County Council equals 90% of the debt the authority had built up by March 2026 as it battled to meet rising demand for SEND services.

As well as the £9million debt still outstanding from before March 2026, the authority expects to overspend its 2026-27 budget by £78million.

Cllr Higgins said:

> "The reality is that supporting children and young people with SEND remains expensive, far more expensive than the funding provided by central Government.  
>  
> "We need to work with parents, carers and users to deliver the services they need while moving provision closer to home."

Vanessa Whatley, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, said:

> "This is an important step towards improving support for children and young people with SEND across Staffordshire.  
>  
> "By working more closely across health, education, social care and the voluntary sector, our aim is to identify needs earlier, provide more support in local communities and make services easier for families to navigate.  
>  
> "We know there is more to do, and we are committed to working with our partners, children, young people and families to deliver sustainable improvements over the coming years."

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