THURROCK Council has missed out on an opportunity to ease the financial burden of its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) requirements because it failed to produce a cogent and workable plan.

The chance to get substantial financial support from the government for what is a looming crisis for the authority is not yet lost – but the council needs to act quickly and revise its submission.

It has been ordered to overhaul its plans after the Department for Education (DfE) deferred approval of the borough's local strategy – and has been given a deadline of the end of this month to do so.

Under the government's High Needs Stability Grant scheme, the DfE offers to clear the vast majority of historical deficits, but this relief remains strictly conditional upon Whitehall signing off on a viable local recovery strategy.

While the government approved strategies for more than 90% of local authorities across the country, Thurrock is one of a small number of councils instructed to revise and resubmit proposals.

The deferral temporarily blocks access to a crucial government deficit-relief package designed to clear 90% of historical SEND debts.

Thurrock's SEND services are under immense strain. It is projected the council will overspend its budget in the current financial year by £10.3 million, pushing the total accumulated deficit to £15.3 million.

The problems were highlighted last month in a Thurrock Nub News report following a meeting of the council's Corporate Overview & Scrutiny committee.

Its members were told a major problem was the cost of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and an over-reliance on expensive, out-of-borough specialist school placements.

EHCPs are a continuing problem for Thurrock Council, which has been blighted by failures to deliver the life-changing health and care statements for local children on time.

Thurrock MP Jen Craft has stepped into the issue and is brokering efforts at both local and government levels. She says she has sympathy with the huge numbers Thurrock has to deal with and says she has flagged up local circumstances with ministers.

However, she also wants the council to step up and meet the challenge – so much so she has published an open letter to council leader Cllr Richard Bingley and Director of Children's Services Sheila Murphy.

Expressing disappointment that the original plan did not meet the required standard for approval, she told Thurrock Nub News: "Too many families in Thurrock are already facing difficulties accessing the support their children need. This must be an opportunity to deliver real improvements and build a SEND system that works for local families.

"I have offered my support to the council as it works to revise the plan and I will continue to work with parents, carers and local services to help ensure the voices of SEND families are heard."

In her letter, Mrs Craft said the Government's SEND reform programme represents a significant opportunity to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, while also putting local services on a more sustainable financial footing.

She highlighted ongoing concerns about SEND provision in Thurrock, referencing findings from the most recent Ofsted inspection and first-hand evidence from her own report on SEND, which found that more than half of parents surveyed felt their child was not receiving enough support at school or college.

The MP said the revised submission must set out a clear plan to identify needs earlier, provide the right support for families and improve outcomes for children across Thurrock.

She adds: "The Government's SEND reforms are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix a system that too often leaves children and families without the support they need."

"It is deeply disappointing that Thurrock Council's initial plan did not meet the required standard, but the focus now must be on getting the revised submission right."

"For too many families, securing support remains a constant battle. We need a plan that identifies needs earlier, delivers consistent support and gives every child the opportunity to thrive."

"I want to see the council succeed in this process and secure the benefits these reforms can bring. That is why I stand ready to support the development of a stronger plan ahead of the November deadline."