Coventry City Council has published plans to transform how children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are supported across the city.
The Council's Cabinet committee will be asked to approve a Local SEND improvement plan at its meeting on 9 June, setting out how Coventry's Local Area Partnership will deliver the government's national SEND reforms over the next three years.
The plan, developed in partnership with the NHS, schools, the Parent Carer Forum and other partners, aims to ensure more children with SEND can thrive in their local mainstream school, with faster access to expert support without the need for lengthy statutory assessments.
A key element of the reforms is a new ‘Experts at Hand’ offer – which will give mainstream schools additional resource to support inclusion.
The city will receive around £3 million in government grant funding in 2026 to 2027 to begin delivering this, rising to an estimated £5.9 million by 2028 to 2029.
Coventry is among a minority of councils nationally that does not have a High Needs Block deficit – the ring-fenced funding used to support pupils with complex needs –placing the city in a stronger financial position than many local authorities as the reforms are implemented.
Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Equalities, said: “Every child in Coventry deserves the opportunity to achieve and thrive and for children and young people with SEND, that means getting the right support, in the right place, at the right time.
“This plan is about building on what Coventry already does well, while being honest about where we need to go further.
“Working together with our NHS partners, schools and – crucially – with families themselves, we are determined to make real, lasting improvements for children and young people across our city.
“The new Experts at Hand model is a significant step forward. Rather than families having to wait for lengthy assessments before their child gets help, schools will be able to draw on specialist expertise much more quickly.
“That is the kind of practical difference this plan is designed to make.”
The number of children and young people in Coventry with Education, Health and Care Plans has more than doubled over the last decade, with over 4,000 currently supported.
The plan acknowledges the growing demand and financial pressure facing SEND services nationally and sets out how Coventry will manage these sustainably while protecting and improving outcomes for children and families.
The plan has been co-produced with partners across the city, including families, schools and NHS partners. It will provide a basis for ongoing collaboration, including with children and young people, as we implement the reforms over the next 3 years.
Feedback from parents and carers has resulted in a stronger emphasis on co-production throughout the plan and greater focus on support for children who are not attending school full time.
Alongside the local authority grant, schools across the city will receive direct government funding to support inclusive practice – on average £19,000 per primary school and £39,000 per secondary school through the national Inclusive Mainstream Fund.
The final plan must be submitted to the Department for Education by 19 June 2026.