Government approves BCP Council’s SEND Reform Plan
The Government has approved BCP Council’s SEND Reform Plan.
This is an important milestone in our work with children, young people, families, schools, health services and other partners to improve SEND support across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
The Government has recognised the progress being made locally and said our plan provides a “positive foundation” for the next stage of our work.
As a result of the SEND Reform Plan being approved, the council’s Improvement Notice will also be lifted. This recognises the progress that has been made across our local SEND partnership.
Our focus now is on putting the plan into action and making sure the changes we make lead to better experiences and outcomes for children, young people and their families.
What does this mean for my child?
There is no immediate change to your child’s support because BCP’s SEND Reform Plan has been approved.
Our work will continue to focus on:
- providing help and support as early as possible
- making education and local communities more inclusive
- increasing high-quality SEND support and provision locally
- supporting more children and young people closer to home, where this meets their individual needs
- improving families’ experiences of SEND services
- listening to children, young people, parents and carers and involving them in shaping services.
The Government is also proposing wider changes to the national SEND system. As part of these reforms, it has said that Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) will be retained and improved for children and young people who need more intensive or complex support than mainstream education settings can routinely provide.
These wider national changes will be introduced gradually. For children and young people who already have an EHCPEHCPA legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life., the Government has said transition to the proposed new system will begin from 2030, once changes to SEND support in mainstream education have been introduced.
What happens next?
Approval of the plan and the lifting of the Improvement Notice are important milestones, but our SEND improvement work does not stop here.
We know there is more to do. We will continue working with children and young people, parents and carers, schools, health services and other partners to deliver improvements and understand where further changes are needed.
We will continue to share updates through the Local OfferLocal OfferA local authority website resource that holds information on services and provision for children and young people with SEN and disabilities across education, health and social care and leisure., including opportunities for children, young people and families to get involved.
Read our FAQs below to find out more about what the decision means for you and your child.
What has happened?
The Government has approved BCP Council’s SEND Reform Plan.
The plan sets out how we will work with our partners and families to improve the local SEND system and the experiences and outcomes of children and young people.
As a result of the plan being approved, the council’s SEND Improvement Notice will also be lifted.
Approval means we can now move into the next stage of this work and focus on delivering the improvements set out in the plan.
What does the lifting of the Improvement Notice mean?
The Improvement Notice was put in place to oversee the council’s progress in improving SEND services. Its removal recognises the progress that has been made.
The lifting of the Improvement Notice does not mean our improvement work is finished. We know there is more to do, and we will continue working with children, young people, families and our partners to improve SEND services and make sure the changes we make lead to better experiences and outcomes.
Will my child’s support change because the plan has been approved?
There is no immediate change to your child’s individual support simply because BCP’s SEND Reform Plan has been approved.
Any decisions about a child or young person’s individual support will continue to take account of their needs and the relevant processes.
It is important to separate BCP’s SEND Reform Plan from the Government’s wider plans for SEND reform across England.
What happens to my child’s EHCP?
Approval of BCP’s SEND Reform Plan does not mean an immediate change to your child’s EHCP.
As part of its wider national SEND reforms, the Government has proposed that EHCPs will be retained and improved for children and young people who need more intensive or complex support than mainstream education settings can routinely provide.
The Government has said the changes will be introduced gradually. For children and young people who already have an EHCP, transition to the proposed new system is planned to begin from 2030. The Government says transitions would then take place as children naturally move between stages of education, such as from primary to secondary school or secondary school to college.
Until national changes are introduced, existing EHCP processes continue to apply.
Have our legal rights changed because BCP’s plan has been approved?
No. Approval of BCP’s SEND Reform Plan does not itself change the legal rights of children, young people, parents and carers.
The Government is proposing wider national changes to the SEND system, but these are separate from the approval of BCP’s local plan and will be introduced over time.
Does approval mean all the issues with SEND services have been resolved?
No.
Approval and the lifting of the Improvement Notice are important milestones and recognise the progress being made, but we know there is more to do.
Our work will continue to focus on providing support earlier, strengthening inclusion, increasing high-quality local provision and improving the experiences and outcomes of children and young people.
The experiences of children, young people and families will continue to help us understand what is working well and where further improvement is needed.
Will you still be making changes to SEND services?
Yes.
Our SEND improvement work will continue. This includes looking at how we can:
- provide support earlier
- strengthen inclusion
- improve how services work together
- increase appropriate local SEND provision
- support more children and young people closer to home where this is right for them.
Where changes affect children, young people or families, we will continue to communicate and engage with those affected.
Does approval affect SEND funding?
Yes. Approval brings significant Government financial support for BCP Council.
The council is eligible for a High Needs Stability Grant covering 90% of its Dedicated Schools Grant deficit built up to the end of 2025/26. The Government’s indicative allocation for BCP is £161.85 million, with the final amount subject to the audited financial position.
This is a significant step in addressing BCP’s historic SEND deficit. However, demand for SEND services continues to place significant financial pressure on the council and wider local area partnership. Expenditure continues to exceed available funding, creating ongoing financial challenges.
Our priority remains improving support and outcomes for children and young people while working with our partners to build an effective and financially sustainable SEND system.
Will parents, carers, children and young people still be involved?
Yes.
Children, young people, parents and carers have played an important role in shaping our SEND improvement work and will continue to do so.
Their experiences help us understand what is working, what needs to improve and what matters most to families.
We will share opportunities to get involved through the Local Offer and our existing SEND engagement channels.
Where can I find help and support?
You can continue to use the Local Offer to find information about SEND services and support available across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
We will keep these pages updated as our SEND improvement work progresses and share further information when it becomes available.