Latest news with #localcouncils
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Number of children with special educational needs plans surges by 10% in a year to increase burden on cash-strapped local councils - as Labour mulls shake-up of system
The number of children with special educational needs plans surged by another 10 per cent in a year, official data has revealed. According to figures from the Department for Education (DfE), there were 638,700 children and young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan in January this year. This was 10.8 per cent higher than in January 2024, when there were 576,474 children and young people with an EHC plan. An EHC plan is a legal document that sets out what support a child or young person requires for their special educational needs. The number of EHC plans has increased each year since their introduction in 2014. This has increased the pressure on cash-strapped local councils, who are responsible for ensuring that all needs set out in an EHC plan are met. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson last week admitted the Government needed to 'think differently' about the system of EHC plans as it is 'just not working'. 'This is not about taking away support for families or children,' she told MPs. Ms Phillipson added: 'It is about making sure that there is much earlier identification of need and that support is put in place much more rapidly, including ahead of any formal diagnosis.' Further data published on Thursday showed 5.3 per cent of pupils in English schools now have an EHC plan, which is up from 4.8 per cent last year. It also revealed there are now 1.28 million pupils in English schools who receive special educational needs (SEN) support without an EHC plan. This was up by 3.7 per cent from 2024. The most common type of need for those with an EHC plan is autistic spectrum disorder, DfE said. And for those with SEN support it is speech, language and communication needs. Funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)in England is not allocated as a separate amount per pupil. It is instead part of the overall 'dedicated schools grant' allocated to each local authority. Council leaders have warned they are facing 'unmanageable' SEND deficits, which has left many town halls facing bankruptcy over the coming years. Parliament's spending watchdog has also criticised the 'chaotic' system for accessing SEND support in damning report earlier this year. A wide variation in waiting times for EHCPs across the country has been branded a 'postcode lottery'. Dame Christine Lenehan, DfE's strategic adviser on SEND, last month said the Government is 'considering whether EHC plans are the right vehicle to go forward'. She told Tes magazine: 'They were introduced in 2014; is this the right system for supporting children's needs?' The most common type of need for those with an EHC plan is autistic spectrum disorder, DfE said Dame Christine also told a panel event at the Schools and Academies Show that reforms would be about changing 'the bureaucratic nightmare we seem to have got ourselves into, which is actually unhelpful and doesn't deliver the outcomes for children that we want'. She said: 'It started off in 2014 as a system for a very small group of children, children who actively needed the engagement of health, care and education in order to meet their outcomes.' Dame Christine said the system has 'expanded and expanded' and suggested that most pupils with an EHCP in place 'don't need health and care, they need a really good, focused education'. 'We need to really think about that because local authorities… are spending huge amounts of money to develop plans that schools then can't implement and that make no sense to anyone,' she added. 'Part of what we are looking at here is a system that is financially bankrupt, but also a system that does not deliver the best outcomes for children, and parents are caught in the middle of it.' In April, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage clashed with charities as he claimed family doctors are 'massively over-diagnosing' children with special educational needs and disabilities. During a press conference in Dover, Kent, Mr Farage bemoaned an overdiagnosis of 'those with mental illness problems and... other general behavioural disabilities'. The Reform leader said: 'So many of these diagnoses - for SEND before 18, for disability register after 18 – so many of these have been conducted on Zoom, with the family GP. I think that is a massive mistake.' But charity bosses condemned the Reform leader's comments as 'wildly inaccurate'. Mel Merritt, head of policy and campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: 'For the record, absolutely no one has got an autism diagnosis through the GP – this is just incorrect, wrong, fake news. 'Children with SEND and disabled adults, including autistic people, are not victims who are being 'over diagnosed'. 'They are people who face huge delays and long fights to get the most basic support across every aspect of their lives, including diagnosis, education, health and social care. 'Spreading misinformation only perpetuates stigma and makes life harder.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Warning on ‘enormously high number' of fines issued to drivers over yellow box rule
Motorists across England were hit with nearly £1 million in fines from just 36 yellow box junctions last year, following the introduction of new enforcement powers for councils. The staggering sum, revealed by the RAC through Freedom of Information requests, has prompted the motoring organisation to warn that the "enormously high number" of penalty charge notices (PCNs) should "send alarm bells ringing in council offices". Yellow box junctions are designed to keep traffic flowing smoothly through busy intersections. Drivers are prohibited from entering these marked areas unless their exit is clear, or they are waiting to turn right. Historically, only London and Cardiff councils held the authority to fine drivers for yellow box offences. However, new legislation introduced by the government in May 2022 expanded these powers, allowing all councils across England to apply for enforcement capabilities. The data specifically highlights the impact of these new powers, detailing fines issued from 36 junctions outside the capital and Cardiff. This led to a total of 32,748 PCNs issued, with drivers paying £998,640. PCNs are generally £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. The RAC analysis found Manchester City Council issued the most PCNs, with 13,130 in relation to six junctions. This brought in £446,706 which was nearly half of all yellow box-related revenue outside London and Cardiff. Kent 's Medway Council raised the second highest amount at £145,162 after handing out 4,433 PCNs for the five yellow boxes it enforced. It was followed by Buckinghamshire Council, which received £139,798 for 3,618 fines. But the single junction that generated the largest revenue was at Dennis Roundabout in Guildford, Surrey, which cost drivers £81,445 as 4,250 PCNs were issued. At the other end of the scale, Gloucestershire County Council issued just 30 yellow box PCNs, raising £945, while Leeds City Council handed out 50 fines, resulting in £605 being paid. Only a fraction of yellow box fines are appealed by drivers, but the proportion of attempts that are successful can be as high as 87 per cent in the case of Medway Council. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said a yellow box which generates a small number of fines indicates it is 'working as it should', which must be the ambition for councils rather than using them as a 'revenue-raising opportunity'. He went on: 'Very few people set out to deliberately flout the rules and get fined. 'The large number of penalties being dished out over a small number of locations and in a short space of time should send alarm bells ringing in council offices. 'It's vital box junctions are used in the correct places and are only as big as absolutely necessary. 'They must be fairly set up so that drivers don't find themselves stranded through no fault of their own.' Chartered engineer Sam Wright was commissioned by the RAC to analyse the 100 boxes across London and Cardiff which were responsible for generating the most fines in 2019. A report published last year showed he found 98 were larger than necessary for their role in preventing queuing vehicles blocking the path of crossing traffic. The average box was 50 per cent bigger than needed, according to the research. Alex Paterson, Medway Council's portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, said its enforcement of yellow boxes is 'not about catching people out', adding that road markings were updated so 'nobody could reasonably claim not to have seen them'. Buckinghamshire Council deputy leader Thomas Broom said the area suffers from 'a lot of congestion' and the amount of yellow box fines issued 'directly relates to the number of people who commit these traffic offences'. A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: 'All councils follow guidance to ensure motorists are treated fairly. 'There are processes for appeal if anyone believes they have been unfairly fined.'
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Public Transport Fares Rising
From next week, prices on public transport around the country are going up - as councils try to meet a directive from the Government to pay more of the cost of delivering the services. The Transport Agency has written to local councils , and transport authorities at the end of last year asking them to increase their private share, from tickets sales and advertising, rather than from rates or government funding. Each council has negotiated with NZTA and worked out a price increase before putting that to ratepayers. Fares will increase in Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, Canterbury and Invercargill. Northland's bus fares are going up from the beginning of August. The BayBus service around Tauranga and Bay of Plenty increased prices in April, while the Otago Regional Council has agreed to raise prices but it hasn't set out when that will Canterbury the bus service has had a flat fee of $2 in a push to increase patronage, and the council pushed back on NZTA to keep prices moderate - they are going up to a flat fee of $3. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
The Independent
19-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Calls for ban on popular funfair pet prize
The RSPCA is urging the government and local councils across England to ban funfairs from giving away goldfish in plastic bags as prizes. The animal welfare charity highlights that goldfish suffer immense pain and stress, including shock and oxygen starvation, when kept in small bags, often dying before reaching their new homes. Over 160 English councils and all 22 Welsh local authorities have already restricted this activity on their land, but the RSPCA is calling for a complete ban on both council and private land. Goldfish are sentient beings that can live for up to 30 years and grow significantly, requiring substantial water space, which is not provided in the small bags given as prizes. A recent survey indicated strong public support, with nearly three-quarters of adults agreeing that local governments should ban giving pets as prizes.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Push for major road rule change affecting hundreds of thousands of Aussies
Calls are mounting from within the nation's capital to reduce speed limits in school zones and across high pedestrianised areas, amid a rise in "near-misses". The push comes as several other jurisdictions around the country look to make similar changes, with safety experts insisting decreased limits also significantly reduce the likelihood of serious injuries in crashes. In the ACT this week, concerned mum Veronica said a car zoomed by her in a school zone when she had her "sons in a pram" and "daughter standing right next to me". Veronica is pushing for major reform across the territory in school zones, including wombat crossings. It comes amid mounting calls across the jurisdiction to lower speed limits from 40 to 30 kilometres an hour in school zones. "I think it would make a huge difference, because it would make the area more welcoming to pedestrians," she told the ABC. "Speed bumps are not close enough to the crossing, and we may need more of them. A wombat crossing [raised zebra crossing]… would really help because it would force cars to slow down right before they got to where children are." Across the country, various local councils have already implemented speed reductions in school zones and high pedestrian areas, including the bustling inner-city suburbs of Fitzroy and Collingwood in Melbourne, and other major hubs such as Manly and Parramatta in Sydney. In both NSW and Victoria, proposals have recently been made to broaden these rules. Peter Frazer OAM, whose daughter was killed by a distracted truck driver, is one fierce advocate for reduced speed limits. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, he argues that lower speeds significantly improve safety outcomes. "People continue to speed through zones, putting our most vulnerable at risk," Peter said. "When we consider that 40 per cent of all fatalities are also associated with speed, if we were just to concentrate on this number for the next 12 months and get it down by 40 per cent, that would equate to about 550 fewer people being killed nationally." At 30 km/h, the risk of a pedestrian being killed if hit by a car drops dramatically compared to higher speeds — a key reason health and road safety experts support the change. Slower speeds also create a more liveable environment, encouraging walking, cycling, and local commerce. In areas such as school zones, shopping strips, and densely populated residential streets, reduced speed limits are seen as a simple and effective way to prevent serious injuries and fatalities while improving the overall experience for all road users. In the ACT school zones apply between 8 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday, during school terms. In most other states and territories in Australia, including NSW, Victoria and South Australia, standard school zone speed limits are 40 km/h. But in some parts of Queensland, they're as high as 60 km/h. Veronica said she's been pushing for changes in ACT school zones, but so far, nothing has shifted. "I've had a near-miss myself... they were supposed to stop at those crossings when the flags are out… they didn't," she said. Dr James Thompson, a road safety expert at the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR), led a significant study assessing vehicle speeds in school zones across the ACT. The research, published this year, aimed to evaluate current speed compliance and its implications for child safety in these areas. The study's findings underscored the necessity for stricter speed regulations to enhance pedestrian safety. It revealed that while the existing 40 km/h speed limit in ACT school zones is a positive measure, compliance rates were not optimal, and the actual speeds often exceeded this limit. The study recommended that the ACT government consider implementing a 30 km/h speed limit in school zones to align with best practices in road safety. 🚙 Major road rule changes coming into effect on July 1 across Australia 💰 Little-known road rule with $600 fine shocks Aussie drivers 🚘 Drivers warned major road rule change with $961 fines 'just weeks' away This recommendation is supported by broader evidence indicating that lower speed limits in high-pedestrian areas, such as school zones, can substantially reduce the severity of accidents and enhance overall safety. For instance, a study by the Monash University Accident Research Centre found that reducing speed limits to 30 km/h in high-pedestrian activity areas could reduce crashes resulting in serious injury by up to 50 per cent. The full report, "Vehicle speeds through school zones in the Australian Capital Territory," is available for public access and provides detailed insights into the study's methodology and findings. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
