9 October 2026 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

Kent’s SEND Reform Plan

I am pleased to inform you that our SEN Reform Plan has been approved by the Department for Education (DfE). In their letter, Ministers commented that the plan met the required threshold and provides a foundation from which the Kent local area can move into delivery.

The Plan’s approval makes Kent eligible to receive a High Needs Stability Grant covering 90% of our DSG deficit accrued up to the end of 2025-26. The Grant allocation for Kent is £162,466,872.

This is good news. I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and skill in drafting the plan in the absence of, or late provision of, DfE guidance. Other local areas have not had their plans approved, demonstrating that our local area’s success is based on sound progress, a clear direction of travel, and a partnership committed to reform.

Now the hard work begins. Change is never easy. We all know the scale of Kent brings both advantages and challenges. However, we step forward with a shared ambition for all children and young people of the County, and we are building on the foundations recognised by Ministers.

Government expects the Kent local area to deliver, through stronger collective ownership, more robust oversight and a sustained focus on measurable outcomes. Swift transition from planning to delivery is demanded.

A key element of the first year focus of the SEND Reform plan was the development of a local “Experts at Hand”, which government intends to support the mainstream sector in increasing its capacity to support a greater level of need. Government expects this to be built and fully implemented over the next three academic years. Last week, 40+ sector leaders met to identify how Kent will collectively meet this challenge. Content from that working group is currently being collated and we will be updating you all shortly on what that means for the Kent local area.

DfE and DHSC will continue to monitor and challenge the Kent local area. Moving forward, Ministers have indicated that Government will continue to take an appropriate and proportionate approach to DSG deficits arising in 2026-27 and 2027-28, but support will not be unlimited. We are confident that together we can reform the SEND system in Kent to improve outcomes for all children and young people, whilst making the whole system more sustainable.

Autumn online Headteacher Briefing

Please hold the morning of Friday 6 November for our Autumn online Headteacher Briefing. The agenda includes sessions from Ofsted HMI, Rob Carpenter - CEO Inspire Partnership and RISE adviser, and KALE, as well as updates on the SEND Area Ofsted, the SEND reform plan, and LGR. Further details and a booking form will follow.

Headteacher Welcome Event

We were delighted to meet 22 of our new Headteachers at our Welcome Event that took place with KALE on Friday 2 October. We wish them well with the important role they have taken on.

On a lighter note

I would like to thank the staff teams at St Edmund’s Catholic School (Dover) and the Enterprise Learning Alliance (Walmer) for welcoming our Cabinet Member, Beverley Fordham, and me in to their settings last week. It was a great pleasure meeting the first pupils in the SRP at St Edmund’s and seeing first-hand how their transition from primary to secondary school was being effectively supported. The visit to Enterprise Learning Alliance was equally rewarding, as we heard more about the focused work to help young people address their immediate challenges and be prepared for returning to school. Both visits reinforced the shared passion we have to ensuring that all children and young people get the right support, early.

Best wishes

David Adams
Interim Deputy Director - Effectiveness, Sufficiency and Skills