Proposals to support children and young people with SEND to be considered by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet discussed plans to further improve support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) on Tuesday 16 June 2026.

This was in response to national education reform plans following the publication of the Schools White Paper ‘Every child achieving and thriving’ and the SEND consultation ‘Putting children and young people first.’

Councils must submit their SEND reform plan to the Department for Education by 19 June 2026.

Earlier this year, Ofsted recognised that there have been improvements in SEND services in Oxfordshire. Significant progress in jointly commissioning services and reducing waiting times for critical support, was also acknowledged.

The SEND reform plan sets out key proposals for children to receive the right support earlier and closer to home by strengthening inclusion in mainstream schools; recruiting more educational psychologists and therapists to improve access to specialist support; creating inclusion support bases; and working more closely with families through local support services.

In developing the plan, a series of workshops were held with health, schools and education settings, and the Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum.

The plan is based on a shared vision to create a more inclusive system where all children feel supported and can thrive, getting the right support at the right time.

The system will be developed over the next three years to:

• Focus on early intervention for children and young people at mainstream schools and settings.
• Provide access to universal and targeted support that is not currently available in the system.
• Deliver a needs led approach, improving outcomes for children and young people.
• Ensuring that a partnership approach informs service delivery.

If approved, Oxfordshire County Council will receive a high needs stability grant, which could cover up to 90 per cent of the dedicated schools grant deficit.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “Every child deserves an opportunity to thrive whatever their circumstances and this plan sets out how we will deliver better, more inclusive support for children and young people with SEND. We are working closely with partners and with families, children and young people who are at the heart of the SEND system.

“It’s a vital step towards improving outcomes while making sure our services are sustainable for the future.”

If approved, progress will be monitored closely, with regular updates to ensure the changes deliver lasting improvements for children and young people across Oxfordshire.

SEND services in Oxfordshire are provided by a local area partnership, which includes Oxfordshire County Council; NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (formerly NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board); Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum; and professional subject matter leads.

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