Issue

School Place Shortage

37 stories · discussed at 197 council meetings · 32 councils

Councils are currently addressing the provision of special educational needs and disabilities support and the delivery of Education, Health and Care Plans.

Kingston upon Thames' Schools Forum discussed the 2026-27 finance update and the SEND Futures Plan in September 2026, approving the continuation of the cluster model for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support. In July 2026, a report to Bexley's Children's Services and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted a slight dip in the delivery of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) within the statutory 20-week timeframe.

Bexley's Children's Services is also undergoing a transformation programme, the Future Bexley Children's Transformation programme, aiming for £1.98 million in savings by March 2027 through a commissioning redesign. This topic, concerning insufficient school places to meet demand, is scheduled for discussion at Bexley's Community Safety Scrutiny Project Sub Group and Hammersmith and Fulham's Licensing Sub-Committee on September 30, 2026.

Further discussions on the school place shortage are scheduled for Tower Hamlets' Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee on October 5, 2026. Hounslow's Cabinet Member Single Member Decision is also scheduled for October 6, 2026, where the topic will be on the agenda.

Key facts

  1. Bexley's Children's Services and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted a slight dip in EHCP delivery in July 2026. Source
  2. Bexley's Future Bexley Children's Transformation programme aims for £1.98 million savings by March 2027. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 5

  1. Park View School RAAC Repairs Delayed Until 2028 Haringey's Park View School will not have permanent repairs to its RAAC-affected building completed until July 2028, according to a report presented at a Cabinet Member Signing... Haringey 3 August 2025
  2. Havering Faces EHCP Backlog Due to Psychologist Shortage; Council Plans AI Solution Havering is grappling with a significant backlog in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) due to a shortage of educational psychologists (EPs), the People Overview & Scrutiny... Havering 20 July 2025
  3. Redbridge Schools' Collective Balances Drop by £3.6M; Two Schools in Deficit Redbridge schools experienced a collective drop of £3.6 million in their revenue balances as of 31 March 2025, according to a report presented at the Redbridge Schools Forum... Redbridge 12 July 2025
  4. Southwark Schools Face Capacity Cuts Amid Pupil Number Drop Southwark schools are facing potential capacity cuts as pupil numbers decline, according to a report discussed at the Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission meeting on... Southwark 11 July 2025
  5. Enfield Schools Face £6.4M Deficit, Recovery Plans in Place Enfield schools are grappling with a significant financial challenge, as 15 schools report a combined deficit of £6.4 million. Recovery plans are being implemented to address... Enfield 8 July 2025