CASE STUDIES
Recent work
Seven recent engagements across SEND and children’s social care, and what each council took away.
30%
of children aged 12 to 15 avoiding starting in residential
Children looked after: keeping 12 to 15 year olds in fostering rather than residential
A placement diagnostic, then a specialist foster carer service now live and recruiting. On track for £5.6m a year in savings.
43%
fewer children forecast in independent special schools
SEND sufficiency: local forecasts and a plan the council now runs itself
School-level inclusion metrics and a sufficiency plan, with £30m cost avoidance forecast by 2028.
£1.4m to £2.4m
annual savings identified in six weeks
SEND transport: 48% of pupils aged 14+ in taxis had a safe public transport route
Every journey assessed, 105 to 146 young people supported towards independent travel, and a driving time policy for short journeys.
800
EHCP cases waiting
EHCP timeliness: why 800 cases were waiting, and a 12-week route to fix it
Over ten manual trackers and half of officer time on admin. One source of truth and automated chasing.
67
fewer children in independent children's homes
Children’s homes: a forecast leaders trust, and a plan to care for more children in county
Spend was forecast to double. Four workstreams to avoid £23m by March 2028.
5 weeks
to quality assure every EHCP
EHCP quality: every plan assessed against the council’s own framework, inside Microsoft Teams
Caseworkers self-assess before submission. Development needs show by team. No subscription cost.
1,000+
children with better outcomes over five years
City SEND strategy: school governance, local specialist places and support at transition
196 children a year supported before needs escalate, 483 new local places, and £35.5m a year avoided by 2030.