Twenty councils have been shortlisted to lead a £70 million pilot of SEND reforms across their schools – but one has already declined to take part.
Up to nine “regional expert partnerships” in England will test reforms that include new national special educational needs and disabilities standards and “tailored” lists of schools for children with education health and care plans.
The groups are set to launch by the end of this year to trial new policies put forward in the SEND and alternative provision green paper.
Two or three other local authorities based “predominantly on their geographical proximity” to the lead council will join the partnership.
