Children's education could be damaged unless the government reverses a planned £600m funding cut, local authority leaders have warned.
The Local Government Association (LGA) says the education services grant paid to councils, due to end next year, allows them to work with schools to improve, provide services such as speech therapy and plan provision in their areas.
It argues that councils support school-led improvement systems and recognise the work being done by teaching alliances, multi-academy trusts and regional commissioners, but says such support is not being provided in some places.
Cllr Richard Watts, chair of the LGA’s children and young people board, said: 'Councils’ track record of helping to improve schools with their local knowledge, expertise and democratic oversight cannot be ignored.
'With the majority of secondary schools now academies, Ofsted has also found that more work needs to be done to improve these schools, especially in Northern parts of the country and in the Midlands.
'Councils are key to unlocking that improvement. Allowing them to intervene early and use their vast experience would help these schools to deliver the high quality education that all of our children deserve.'
