13 February 2026 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

We have a bumper update for you this week, which evidences just how much the sector continues to collectively manage, alongside fulfilling our basic day-jobs. Updates span some of the huge government transformation work and local improvements, but most importantly include some fantastic examples of how our systems are strengthening and providing better outcomes to the children of Kent.

On the cusp of half term, we’ll therefore get straight into the detail. Wishing those of you who are off a restful break and to others an opportunity to catch up and reflect.

SEND Phase Transfer

Phase Transfer has been one of the major areas of focus for the Council, as it is so integral to ensuring the pupils start off in the right setting at key transition points. For the first time in anyone’s collective record keeping, KCC will issue finalised amended EHCPs to 100% of all entitled Primary, Junior and Secondary age pupils by the statutory deadline. By way of a reminder, KCC’s fulfilment of this legal duty sat around 20-30% only three years ago. This is the very definition of system wide collective improvement, as schools and the council worked collaboratively to make the necessary changes to reach this important milestone.

Phase Transfer does not guarantee parents their preferred school, so some people will be receiving answers that do not fill them with satisfaction. However, as the system is now capable of meeting basic duties to deadlines, further improvements can be focused on providing the necessary support to help these parents understand how these placements can work for their child’s best interests. So our focus on continued improvement remains as sharp as ever.

Launch of the public consultation on Local Government Reorganisation

Government ministers have launched a public consultation on how local government should be organised across Kent and Medway. This forms part of a national programme called Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), which explores the creation of unitary councils. Each unitary council would deliver the full range of local government services in their geographical area. Under the current system, Kent County Council (KCC) provides services such as education, social care and highways, while district and borough councils are responsible for areas including waste collection and housing. Medway already operates as a unitary council.

As part of this consultation, councils in Kent and Medway have submitted a series of potential options. These options set out how many unitary councils might be created and what areas they would cover. You can view all the proposals submitted to Government for Kent and Medway

Kent County Council has put forward a proposal for a single unitary authority - the Kent Council - designed to simplify local government, strengthen services and deliver better value for residents. Other councils in Kent and Medway have submitted alternative options - including models involving three, four or five unitary councils - supported by their own evidence bases. Full details of all the options are included in the material available for consideration.

The Kent Council model would replace all existing councils with one authority supported by three Area Assemblies - North, East and West Kent - ensuring decisions on community services remain locally grounded.

If you are a Kent resident, it is important to make your views known and you may consider highlighting the consultation to staff and parents. Background materials - including evidence for all proposed options and submissions from each council - are available at the Kent Council Leaders website. To participate in the Government’s consultation, visit local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway on GOV.UK

The deadline for responses Thursday 26 March 2026.

After the consultation closes on Thursday 26 March 2026, Government officials and ministers will review all responses alongside the technical evidence. A decision is expected in the summer of 2026.

SEND national funding 

Schools’ Funding Forum met this morning for an exceptional meeting to try and navigate the significant and unanticipated funding messages that have been coming from Government in recent weeks. We have written previously about the High Needs Funding Block, which following many years of significant increases, has been frozen at the 2025-26 level for 2026-27. This was followed by last week’s announcement that 90% of the national SEN overspends up to the end of this financial year will be effectively written off, which has positive implications for historic overspend, but does nothing to address the difficulties already expected next year. The publication of the White Paper is also imminent and there may be further funding announcements with that, but as you know from your own budgeting work we need to plan on the basis of the funding we have.

There are no easy answers to these overlapping challenges, but all parties agreed that continued collaborative planning will be at the heart of any response. More updates will be provided as decisions progress.

Community of Schools update

As a result of the Community Chairs Keeping in Touch meeting last week a series of webinars have been created, they will support the development of knowledge across the Community of Schools system. They are being delivered by Community Chairs, Inclusion Champions and SENCOs on a number of topics. Recordings of the sessions will be available, and a library of webinars will then sit on Kelsi for reference. The intention is that this will be an initial series and further will follow in the academic year 26/27 to build up a library of resource.

With all best wishes

Craig Chapman
Interim Director for Education: Access and Inclusion