Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how BCP Council failed to sufficiently strengthen collective ownership, governance, capability and partnership working in its reform of SEND delivery; and against what criteria judgment will be made on whether progress is sufficient to qualify for further support for the Council's High Needs Stability Grant.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s Local special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Reform Plan was approved by the department on 2 October 2026. The outcome letter recognised the partnership’s progress in strengthening local leadership, relationships and governance, as well as positive momentum in collective working across education, health and care, as reflected in its latest Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection.

As the local area partnership remains subject to an improvement notice, it continues to receive monitoring, support and challenge under those arrangements, as set out in update provided to local members of Parliament.

The department will continue to review progress against the improvement notice. In light of the partnership’s improvements and the approval of its Local SEND Reform Plan, the department will consider whether the notice should remain in place.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s Council has also qualified for the 2026/27 High Needs Stability Grant. Arrangements for further support relating to deficits arising in 2026/27 and 2027/28 will be confirmed in due course.