Devon County Council has unveiled a bold new strategy to reshape support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), aiming to create a more inclusive education system across the county.
The SEND Sufficiency Strategy 2025–2030, to be considered by our Cabinet next week (Wednesday 10 December), sets out how Devon will meet rising demand for SEND provision while reducing reliance on independent specialist placements.
The plan focuses on early intervention, local provision, and building inclusive communities, in line with national reforms expected to be formalised in a Schools White Paper next year.
Over the past year, the number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) has grown by more than 11 per cent nationally, with Devon seeing similar pressures.
This has led to increased demand for specialist provision and significant strain on the council’s High Needs Block funding.
To address this, we have already expanded specialist provision, adding nearly 700 special school places since 2018 and opening new schools in Newton Abbot, Okehampton, and Tiverton.
But, this approach alone is not sustainable. Instead, the strategy prioritises strengthening mainstream schools to meet a broader range of predicted SEN needs, supported by locality-based multi-agency teams, enhanced inclusive practices, and reviewing the county special school provision.
Deputy and SEND Strategic Director Kellie Knott said:
“We must move towards a system where high-quality support is provided as soon as a need is identified, rather than only once an EHC plan is in place.
“Responding to the needs of children with SEND must become an intrinsic part of the mainstream system.”
We are calling for additional government investment to deliver the transformation at scale, including funding for inclusive capacity in schools, workforce development, and integrated support services.
Without this, we warn that financial pressures could hinder progress.
The strategy also supports our environmental goals by reducing long-distance travel for SEND pupils and promoting local provision, while aligning with our commitment to equality and inclusion.