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“While it was good the Government announced money for SEND last year, it must use the forthcoming Spending Review to plug the estimated special needs funding gap facing councils of up to £1.6 billion by 2021."

“This timely report further highlights the significant benefits for local communities arising from greater civic engagement across the higher education landscape and identifies the clear need for a stronger focus by government on place-based policy and funding."

“Councils have grave concerns about the future of maintained nurseries if the current funding does not continue beyond 2020."

“Placing a legal duty on parents to register home-schooled children with their local authority would also help councils to monitor how children are being educated and prevent them from disappearing from the oversight of services designed to keep them safe.”

"Good relationships between councils, schools, the NHS and other organisations are crucial to making sure that children are referred as quickly as possible and get the support they need to help them their lives to the fullest.”

“Converting to an academy is not always the best solution for a struggling school.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, responds to a report by the National Audit Office on children’s social care.

"This damning report raises serious questions around academy financial governance and will be hugely concerning to parents and teachers across the country."

"This report rightly recognises the importance of early intervention and prevention services for children provided by councils, and the significant financial strain these are under."

“These findings are further evidence of the funding pressures schools and councils are under, including support for children with special needs, which faces a shortfall of £472 million this year alone."