THIS WEEK’S RADAR🎯

• Join us at LGA: Explore GenAI’s role in modernising services and connect with digital and SEND leaders in Liverpool.

• Budget Pressures Mount: 6 in 10 councils fear deficits in 2025 — rural areas especially vulnerable as £2.2B gap looms.

• SEND Reform Urgency: DfE’s action plan aims to tackle a £3.3B high-needs shortfall — timing and execution will be critical.

• Wales Leads with Linked Data: £1.4M project fuses care, health, and census info to power smarter policymaking.

• Coventry’s £103M Boost: Record investment will expand school capacity with net-zero infrastructure by 2028.

• Dorset Goes Digital: Acoustic monitoring and e-records improve safety and streamline care in local homes.

• New Talent at Agilisys: Avril K brings frontline EHCP expertise to help shape AI solutions built with SEND professionals.

LGA EVENT

You're Invited: UK GovTech Drinks Reception on Gen AI Transformation​

📅 Wednesday 2nd July​

🕕 6:15 – 7:45 PM​

📍Clockwise, Liverpool (5 mins from the ACC Liverpool – venue of the LGA Conference)​

Are you a SEND or Digital Leader attending Local Government Association Conference in Liverpool? ​

Join us for a drinks and canapes reception hosted by UK GovTech to explore and celebrate the growing role of Generative AI in Children’s and Adults' Services.​

This reception will bring together leaders from local government to share knowledge, reflect on the accomplishments of pioneering councils, and connect over the opportunities GenAI presents for public service delivery.

Come and enjoy drinks and nibbles, meet peers driving innovation, and help shape the future of AI in Children’s and Adult’s Social Care.​

🔗 Register your interest here.​

BUDGET CONCERNS

Six In Ten Local Authorities Face Budget Crisis Next Year

Six in ten local councils in England are sceptical about managing a balanced budget next year due to a projected £2.2 billion funding gap, exacerbated by soaring service demands and looming SEND deficits. A critical Spending Review will determine their financial futures, with rural councils especially at risk from potential funding redistribution. Councils urge government intervention for substantial, long-term social care funding to avert service cuts and financial instability.

EDUCATION FUNDING CRISIS

DfE's Urgent Action Plan to Address SEND Funding and System Crisis

The Department for Education's urgent reform plans aim to address the £3.3 billion deficit in England's SEND high-needs budgets by 2026. Proposed measures include improved understanding of SEND demand, decision-making enhancements, clear inclusion standards, workforce improvements, and sustainable spending strategies. Timely implementation is essential to prevent local authority bankruptcies and ensure the quality education and support for all SEND children.

SOCIAL CARE DATA

Linking Data to Enhance Adult Social Care Services in Wales

Cardiff University's CARE Lab has received £1,441,577 to enhance adult social care in Wales through data integration. The project connects social care datasets with health and census information using the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank. By identifying patterns and informing policy, this initiative aims to improve care services while maintaining stringent privacy standards.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Coventry Awarded £103 Million For Education Expansion And Infrastructure

Coventry receives a record £103 million in government funding to expand school capacity and infrastructure by 2028 due to a rise in pupil numbers. This investment will create new secondary and special education places, including net-zero buildings, addressing the growing educational demands in the city.

DIGITAL CARE INTEGRATION

Digital Care Improvements Enhance Quality in Dorset Care Homes

IN OTHER NEWS

Agilisys is proud to welcome Avril K to the team as they continue their mission to transform SEND services across the UK.​

A highly experienced EHCP expert and former SEND Caseworker, Avril brings over six years of frontline experience across multiple local authorities. ​

​Her work has spanned the full EHCP process — from writing plans to leading on Tribunal cases — giving her a deep, practical understanding of the challenges faced by local teams.​ Avril’s appointment reflects Agilisys’s commitment to ensuring that SEND professionals are at the heart of developing how AI can support EHCP creation, assurance, and Annual Reviews. ​

👉 Explore Avril’s perspective on tech in SEND.

YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS 🗳️