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“Councils continue to face immense demand pressures in providing vital care and support for children and young people with SEND and are running increasing deficits on their high needs budgets which finance SEND services."

“Councils have a crucial role to play in education, from ensuring every child has a school place to turning around struggling schools, and as they showed when providing vital support to schools during the pandemic."

“It is fantastic that the Government has accepted our long-standing call to scrap the housing borrowing cap."

Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board Cllr Judith Blake, responds to an announcement by the Secretary of State for Education about reforms to the Adoption Support Fund.

“With councils facing extra cost pressures of at least £2.5 billion a year, the next Government needs to commit to moving forward with vital business rates reforms and the LGA looks forward to working with the Government to make this happen.”

LGA spokesperson responds to a planning guidance report on fracking by MPs on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee.

“Despite the best of intentions, the current system is not working, and we are pleased government has set out reforms to address this. They will only succeed if parents and carers have confidence in the system."

“This cross-government review of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support is good news and is what the LGA has previously called for."

Councils are working hard to ensure all people, including those with disabilities and their carers, receive high quality, reliable care and support, as well as information and advice, to help them lead independent and fulfilling lives.

“Only with the right funding and powers can councils continue to make a difference to people’s lives by supporting families and young people and help tackle serious violent crime in our local communities.”