SEND

Struggling council gets first SEND ‘improvement adviser’ 

John Coughlan, who is also a commissioner in Birmingham, will advise Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council

John Coughlan, who is also a commissioner in Birmingham, will advise Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council

Ministers have appointed the first SEND “improvement adviser” at a council in negotiations for a multi-million pound government bailout to stave off bankruptcy.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) was issued with a statutory direction this week after failing to make enough progress since a damning 2021 Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection. 

As part of the intervention, John Coughlan has been appointed as “strategic SEND improvement adviser” to report back to ministers on the council’s progress. 

Coughlan was appointed as a non-executive commissioner for Birmingham’s failing SEND services in 2021. Hull and Slough councils have also had their own commissioners.

But the improvement adviser role is new. The Department for Education said it was more of a support role than a commissioner.

SEND adviser John Coughlan
Coughlan

BCP is currently in negotiations with the DfE over a safety valve agreement, a scheme set up to provide financial assistance to councils struggling with SEND costs.

The council previously warned that it would effectively have to declare itself bankrupt this year if its dedicated schools grant blackhole – expected to reach £63.4 million by this month – was not cleared. 

Following a parent-led campaign and protest, councillors voted unanimously to hold a full council debate and vote on the agreement. Such decisions are normally made by council officers.

The Ofsted inspection three years ago found that leaders had been “distracted and delayed” from implementing the SEND reforms “by the reorganisation of the council and high staff turnover”.

“Deep cultural issues” locally “continue to hamper leaders’ ability to make progress”, it added.

Cathi Hadley, BCP children’s services director, said it was agreed last year that its 2021 improvement plan, signed off by the DfE, “would not have the desired impact”. A new plan has since been created. 

The council said that 24.7 per cent of new education, health and care plans were issued within the legal limit of 20 weeks in January, compared with 0 per cent in January and August last year. 

But Hadley added that the “real litmus test” would be when families say they feel a difference. 

More from this theme

SEND

SEND: DfE ‘looking into’ how many schools are not inclusive

Children's minister David Johnston reveals he is probing why some schools have far fewer pupils with EHCPs

Samantha Booth
SEND

Revealed: Locations of 16 new special schools and trusts to run 7 more

It follows the announcement of £105m capital cash at the spring budget

Freddie Whittaker
SEND

SEND: Some safety valve councils have ‘removed’ deficits – DfE boss

Permanent secretary says government is 'seeing some really good progress from councils'

Freddie Whittaker
SEND

One of first safety valve councils slammed over ‘failing’ SEND services

Damning inspection calls into question again whether controversial bailout scheme is working

Samantha Booth
SEND

Meet the trusts pioneering state-run private special schools

Plans follow revelation of private equity-backed firms making millions from running such schools

Samantha Booth
SEND

SEND reforms pilot already nine months behind schedule

Some changes have gone down like 'cold sick', while others are more popular, consortium member reports

Samantha Booth

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *