Staying Safe in Local Elections: Challenges and support for candidates
With local elections nearing, rising abuse fears are deterring candidates - this analysis explores risks, definitions, and new guidance to support safer campaigning.
Council apologises for college transport mistake
25/02/2026 A council has apologised to a woman with complex learning difficulties who it did not provide with sufficient funding for her transport to college. |
Spending on SEND support set to hit £21bn
02/10/2025 Spending on education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and child disability living allowance (CDLA) in England is set to reach £21bn by 2029. |
Ombudsman slams delays in Leeds SEND support plans
25/09/2025 Leeds CC has been criticised after an Ombudsman investigation uncovered significant delays in providing EHC Plans for children with special educational needs. |
Coventry secures £1m to support disadvantaged young people
22/09/2025 Coventry City Council has received almost £250,000 in additional Government funding, bringing total investment in youth education programmes to over £1m. |
MPs call for 'root and branch' transformation of 'broken' SEND system
18/09/2025 A cross-party report has called for ‘root and branch transformation' of the ‘broken' special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. |
Billions spent on SEND – but is it paying off?
11/09/2025 Financial experts have warned there is almost no way to assess whether the billions spent on England’s SEND system represent value for money. |
Underfunding, Not Demand, Is Breaking SEND
29/08/2025 Jack Lowman, Sense, says properly funding the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system is vital for disabled children to get the best start. |
Overdiagnosis straining SEND system, think tank says
28/08/2025 England’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system is unsustainable because of an overdiagnosis of mental health issues, think tank says |
Council wrote to families about EHC plan reviews that never took place
13/08/2025 Stockton on Tees BC has apologised after an investigation revealed that nearly 100 young people with EHC plans have not had their support updated. |
