Solihull Council’s Education Related SEND Strategic Activity

The Schools White Paper (Every child achieving and thriving) and the accompanying special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform consultation paper (Putting children and young people first) offer a 10-year plan to transform England’s education system focused on standards, inclusion, early intervention, and family support. 

In response to the challenges faced within the SEND system in particular, the proposed reforms aim to shift the system toward earlier identification, mainstream provision capable of meeting a wider range of needs, consistent national standards which reduce reliance on statutory thresholds, and fostering a more inclusive and responsive approach to supporting all children effectively moving funding away from Councils to schools for all but the most complex.

Further information is available below:

May 2026 - Joint statement from Solihull Parent Carer Voice (SPCV) and Solihull MBC

SEND reforms - information for parent carers

SEND reform briefing paper

This provides an overarching strategy across the local area SEND partnership to provide robust leadership inspection regime. It also meets the requirement for a published SEND strategy whilst reflecting our drive to focus more on early intervention for any child with any additional need and reduce the need for statutory intervention. This strategy will underpin any other SEND policies and activity.

Further information about the Additional Needs Strategy

Additional Needs Strategy annual report 2025

Solihull SEND SEF - position statement 2026

Solihull SEND SEF 2025

Solihull is proud of its strong and collaborative education system. We remain committed to working together to ensure every child and young person has strong early foundations which they can build upon throughout their education journey - receiving the best possible education and support; despite the increasing pressures on schools, settings, staff and families.
The statement of intent for education in Solihull sets out our aspiration – our shared vision, values, and responsibilities for the future of education in Solihull. It reflects our commitment to building a cohesive, inclusive, and equitable system through partnership across schools, academy trusts, services, families, and the local authority.

The education sufficiency strategy will help all key stakeholders understand the need for school place planning, as well as establishing the principles against which school reorganisation will be planned.

The strategy will consider the future need for school places throughout the borough and set out the framework within which the Council will consider the organisation of school places over the next five years.

The aim of the draft education sufficiency strategy is to set out the way that Solihull Council intends to address its statutory responsibility to ensure a sufficiency of places across all areas of education provision including:

• Early Years (0-4 years)
• Mainstream - primary and secondary (4 - 16 years)
• Alternative Provision (4 - 16 years)
• Post-16 (16 - 19 years)
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) (0 - 25 years)

Consultation on the draft education sufficiency strategy

Children and young people having the best possible outcomes is a key priority for Solihull Council. The aims of the Solihull Best Start Plan are to ensure that every child is supported to achieve a good level of development by age five, reduce inequalities - particularly for children from disadvantage backgrounds - and strengthen the early years workforce and inclusive practice.

Best start in life plan 2026-2029

Solihull Council’s Accessibility Strategy for Education sets out how we will improve access to education for children and young people with disabilities across the borough.

We want all children and young people, regardless of need or disability, to be welcomed, included and able to access high‑quality education and wider learning opportunities within their local community. The strategy reflects our commitment to inclusion, equality of opportunity and positive outcomes for all.

Accessibility Strategy 2026 - 2029

The Solihull Council SEND JSNA combines available data, research and intelligence to explore SEND prevalence and trends for children and young people aged 0 25 living and/or studying in Solihull as compared to statistically similar local authorities and the national average.

SEND JSNA Summary 2023

MIME Solihull SEND Dashboard - Commentary Report (August 2025)