Southwark Council to expand inclusion hubs in secondary schools as Part of SEND Reform

Southwark Council to expand inclusion hubs in secondary schools as Part of SEND Reform

Southwark Council is set to enhance inclusion hubs within secondary schools as part of its comprehensive SEND reform plan, aiming to provide more localised and effective support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The initiative is underpinned by ambitious targets designed to measure its success, including a significant increase in the proportion of secondary pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) educated in mainstream settings.

Officers presented the plan, highlighting a shift towards earlier intervention and greater inclusion within mainstream settings. A key focus is the expansion of inclusion hubs, particularly within secondary schools, to provide targeted support closer to home. This initiative seeks to reduce reliance on specialist placements and improve outcomes for young people.

The SEND Reform Plan includes several measures intended to monitor both the delivery of the programme and its impact on outcomes for children and young people. Key targets over the next three years include:

• Increasing the proportion of secondary pupils with EHCPs in mainstream settings from 55% to 65%.
• Boosting the rate of EHCPs issued within 20 weeks from 45% to 65%, while reducing the annual growth rate of EHCPs from 5% to below 4%.
• Reducing the number of independent/non-maintained placements from 205 to 35, and expanding local resourced provision in secondary settings from 25 to 390 places.
• Increasing supported internships from 10 to 30.
• Achieving a 75% positivity rate for parent, young person, and professional satisfaction.
• Reducing the proportion of open EHCPs for those aged 20-25 from 11% to 8% to ensure long-term sustainability of the local SEND system.

Officers acknowledged that secondary schools present a greater challenge in developing inclusion hubs, but confirmed that discussions are underway with academy trusts. While academies have local decision-making autonomy, the council is working to encourage their participation. The full details of the reform plan were presented in the public reports pack for the Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission meeting on 20 October 2026.

Public reports pack Tuesday 20-Oct-2026 19.00 Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission