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<p>The department shares the ambition that children with special educational needs
and disabilities (SEND) should receive the vital support they need across Education,
Health and Care (EHC). As set out in the Children and Families Act 2014, the local
authority has a legal duty to ensure that the special educational provision specified
in an EHC plan is delivered. The department also has a number of measures in place
to ensure that children receive the educational and wider support they need.</p><p>
</p><p>Where local authorities are failing to deliver consistent outcomes for children
and young people with SEND, the department works with them using a set of improvement
programmes and SEND specialist advisors to address weaknesses. The department is also
investing heavily in the SEND system, including £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025
to fund new special and alternative provision (AP) places and improve existing support,
including the announcement of 41 new special free schools.</p><p> </p><p>The department
is also taking steps to improve the SEND system in the longer term, so that EHC plans
can be issued as quickly as possible when needed and enable children and young people
to access the support they require. In March 2023, the government set out its plans
to reform and improve the SEND system through its SEND and AP Improvement Plan. This
plan commits to establishing a single national system that delivers for every child
and young person with SEND so that they enjoy their childhood, achieve good outcomes
and are well prepared for adulthood and employment. The department is currently testing
measures which it believes will make the biggest improvements to both the quality
of plans, the experience of getting a plan and the quality and speed with which support
is put in place.</p><p> </p><p>The department is strengthening accountability across
the system so that everyone is held to account for supporting children and young people.
This includes the new Ofsted and Care Quality Commission Area SEND inspection framework,
which gives more prominence to the quality integration and commissioning of EHC services,
and a national and local dashboard, which gives parents the opportunity to monitor
the performance of their local systems.</p><p> </p><p>If a child or young person does
not receive the support detailed in their EHC plan, the young person or parent can
raise their concern with the school or local authority directly. Families can appeal
to the First-Tier SEND Tribunal if they are unhappy with a local authority’s decision
regarding an EHC assessment or plan. The Tribunal can also hear appeals and make non-binding
recommendations about health and social aspects of EHC plans.</p>
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