Birmingham City Council's Local SEND Reforms Plan has been approved by the Government Department of Education, moving the city's support system for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) into its next delivery phase.
The plan was approved at Cabinet on 20 October, following earlier Department of Education sign-off. It will guide improvements to SEND provision across Birmingham over the next three years, with delivery programmes running through to 2029.
What the plan includes
The reform programme focuses on four main areas: improving early intervention, strengthening inclusion in mainstream schools, increasing specialist support, and expanding local provision to meet growing demand.
A key element is the development of Birmingham's new Experts at Hand model, which will provide earlier specialist advice and support for schools, early years settings and post-16 providers. This is designed to help more children and young people access the support they need in their local communities.
The plan builds on existing expansion work. Since 2024, Birmingham has created 17 new resource bases and added 416 specialist places. Further expansion of specialist provision across the city is planned as part of the reform programme.
Funding and partnership
The Government has already secured more than £21 million in funding for 2026/27 to support delivery of the reforms.
The plan was developed jointly with education, health, social care and the Birmingham Parent Carer Forum, reflecting a requirement for closer partnership working across services.
Cllr Kamel Hawwash, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said the reforms represent "a significant change for our city" that will require education, health, care and local government to "work differently and more closely together".
More information about SEND provision in Birmingham is available through the Local Offer Birmingham website at localofferbirmingham.co.uk.