Improvements to and funding for Hertfordshire’s SEND service

That this House congratulates the Liberal Democrat administration at Hertfordshire County Council and the Central East Integrated Care Board on their work to reform the local Special Education Needs and Disabilities service for the county; welcomes the lifting of the Improvement Notice on 15 April 2026, which was issued to the previous Conservative administration at the council after the authority received the worst possible outcome during a joint Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection in July 2023; notes with regret the devastating impact the poor SEND service provided by the previous administration had on children, young people and their families for many years in Hertfordshire; acknowledges that further improvement to SEND delivery is ongoing to ensure families receive the support they need to allow their children to thrive and succeed; cautiously welcomes the £17million of High Needs Capital allocation from the Labour government for 2026/27, but regrets that of 153 local authorities this leaves Hertfordshire as 91st in terms of per pupil funding; notes that EHCP numbers have increased by 139% over the 8 years to 2025/26, spending has increased by 183%, but that the High Needs Grant from central government has increased by only 112%, with service provision significantly outstripping available funding; condemns the government’s policy of confirming a High Needs Stability Grant of only 90% of the cumulative funding deficit; and calls on Ministers to urgently provide funding to allow the authority to deliver the service families need and deserve.