This week I report on the announcement of DfE capital funding to create more SEND places in mainstream schools and confirmation that no further safety valve agreements will be agreed with councils struggling with their high needs deficits; the publication of Ofsted’s Annual Report for 2023/24 and the rescheduling of a DfE live event with the Minister for Early Education.

Funding to create new specialist places in mainstream schools
The Government has earmarked £740 million of capital funding to create more specialist SEND places in mainstream schools. The aim is to ensure that more children with SEND can attend mainstream schools in their local area, rather than having to attend special schools further afield due to a lack of provision locally. The DfE’s press release states that new guidance on how councils can use this investment will be published in the Spring.

Ministers have also announced they will not enter into any new ‘safety valve’ agreements with councils struggling with big high needs deficits, warning the scheme has not been effective enough across the board given the scale of the challenge. It will continue to work with local authorities with safety valve agreements in place to deliver their plans.

Publication of Ofsted’s Annual Report for 2023/2024
Ofsted has released its Annual Report for 2023/2024 and the main findings state that education settings are struggling to recruit and retain skilled staff, school absence rates remain higher than before the Covid pandemic, and more children are experiencing unorthodox patterns of education. Ofsted also reaffirmed that at the start of 2025, it will formally consult on a renewed inspection framework for schools, early years, further education and skills providers, and initial teacher education.

DfE Early Years live event
The DfE’s live online event with Stephen Morgan, the Minister for Early Education, has been rescheduled to Tuesday 17 December at 6:00pm. The DfE said the rescheduling is to ensure that the discussion can include announcements that are anticipated in the coming weeks. You can sign up for the event using this link.