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- Local Government Newsletter | Volume 57
Local Government Newsletter | Volume 57
Plus: Could MOT-style health checks at 65 ease care pressures long term?
Rafe Houston
July 02, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Local Government Updates
Welcome to Local Government, your weekly newsletter offering insights and strategies to help UK council leaders innovate, engage, and deliver better public services.
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UK GovTech Live at LGA🎤
UK GovTech was on the ground in Liverpool as leaders from across local government tackled the most pressing issues shaping children’s services and early years strategy. Here are our Top 3 Picks from Day 1:
🧒 Meeting the Plan for Change for Children
Susie Owen (DfE), Alice Wiseman (Gateshead & Newcastle), and Dr. Matt Price (1001 Critical Days) discussed how to meet the national goal of 75% of children to be ready to learn by school age—emphasising family services, secure attachment, and tackling inequality from birth.
🌱 Thrive at Five x Stoke-on-Trent
A powerful example of early years investment in action, with a 51% drop in language delays and 5x more parent-baby groups—built on collaboration between local government and community.
🏛️ Transformation at Wyre Council
Rebecca Huddleston and Sarah Palmer shared learnings from Wyre’s two-year transformation journey and how it’s helping shape wider strategy across Lancashire.
Stay tuned for more from #LGA2025 in our next edition.
Tonight’s Event🥂
Just a few spots left for UK GovTech x Agilisys: Centring Citizens in GenAI Transformation — taking place tonight, 2 July, 6:15–7:30pm at Clockwise Liverpool (5 mins from the main venue).
If you're a Children’s or Adults’ Services leader exploring how GenAI can support frontline teams, join local gov peers and digital leaders for drinks, networking, and real-world insights.
Quick Reads📖
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
1.7 million funding will enable 4,000 UK schools to trial assistive technology, tailored to support children with special educational needs and disabilities, enhancing independence and reducing teacher workload.
SOCIAL CARE DEVELOPMENT
Skills for Care calls for 90 providers to pilot the Care Workforce Pathway, a career structure designed to enhance skills and retention in adult social care. This initiative aims to address workforce challenges, offering guidance for career progression, while feedback will refine its national rollout.
EDUCATION CRISIS
The SEND system is overwhelmed, with over 400 daily requests for support, reflecting rising demand and unsustainable council deficits, projected to reach £6 billion. Comprehensive reform is urgently needed to ensure effective support within mainstream schools and alleviate financial pressures on local authorities.
ADULT SOCIAL CARE
Proposed adult social care reforms in England suggest adopting a Japanese-style proactive health assessment for individuals turning 65, aiming to enhance quality of life and reduce care costs. This preventative approach, recommended by the IPPR, could decrease care home admissions and provide sustainable funding. Immediate reform is urgent to address a £23.3 billion social care crisis.