Somerset Council says it has made a "rapid improvement" in arranging school transfers for children with special educational needs and disabilities, after serious delays earlier this summer. At the beginning of September, 31 children remained on interim SEND packages while officers worked with schools and families to secure placements.

The figures were discussed when the council's executive met in Taunton on Wednesday, 2 September, following concerns about children in Years 6 and 11 moving between schools.

In June, councillors had been told that 53 per cent of children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) in Year 6 and 78 per cent of those in Year 11 did not yet have a suitable September placement finalised. At the same point, 97 per cent of EHCP assessments were reported as overdue.

The council made phase transfers a priority over the summer and in July approved £5.331 million of additional SEND investment over two years. The funding is intended to increase capacity, tackle assessment backlogs, improve EHCP timeliness and provide additional support for young people preparing for adulthood.

Councillor Frances Nicholson questioned the progress made since the June figures and asked how many children now had suitable placements.

She said: "Phase transfer work was made the service's top priority, with a target to complete the majority by the end of July.

"I would be grateful if the number of individuals that make up these figures could be given, as well as the number in each of the two phase transfer groups whose suitable placement has now been confirmed and who can attend it from the beginning of term."

She also asked what education was being provided for children who could not immediately attend their new setting.

Councillor Evie Potts-Jones, Somerset Council's lead member for SEND, public health and equalities and diversity, said many of the earlier figures had been overtaken by "rapid improvements" and "remarkable changes" in the service. Somerset Council also identifies her as its lead member for SEND in its published information on the £5.3 million investment.

She said: "At the beginning of September, there were only 31 children who have a SEND interim package in place – 12 in age groups up to Year 6, and 19 in Year 11.

"The expectation is that the vast majority of these children will have a school place by the October half term, and for every child in a phased transfer cohort, there is a school or setting place agreed for that September term start."

Ms Potts-Jones said the council was working with commissioning teams to ensure enough provision was available to meet demand. Interim packages were being put in place for children who could not immediately take up a school placement.

She added: "We will dedicate at least two officers to only work with settings and families, with the aim that the children and young people in this group have a school placement no later than the October half term."

The council has said the extra SEND funding approved in July will pay for additional educational psychologists, SEND support officers, business support, legal capacity and temporary staffing across statutory SEND services.

At the beginning of September, the council said 12 children up to Year 6 and 19 in Year 11 remained on interim SEND packages.

Original reporting: Daniel Mumby/LDRS

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