Hertfordshire County Council's plans to improve support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been approved by the Government, unlocking millions of pounds in funding.

The Department for Education has given the green light to the county's SEND Reform Plan, which aims to improve support for children and young people across Hertfordshire, including Hitchin and North Hertfordshire.

The approval means the council will receive £9.76 million in first-year funding to recruit more specialist staff, improve support in mainstream schools and help children with additional needs at an earlier stage.

Recruitment is already underway as part of a new initiative known as the 'Experts at Hand' model, which will give schools greater access to specialist advice and support.

The Government has also confirmed that Hertfordshire qualifies for a High Needs Stability Grant, which will cover 90 per cent of the council's accumulated SEND funding deficit up to the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

The council expects to receive £74.7 million through the grant, leaving it responsible for the remaining £8.3 million.

However, council leaders have stressed that the funding is intended to address historic financial pressures rather than pay for additional improvements.

Councillor Mark Watkin, Hertfordshire County Council's Executive Member for Education, SEND and Inclusion, said:

"The approval of our plan confirms that we are on the right track and means the commitments we have made to families through our SEND Strategy can now form part of our reform efforts.

"I welcome confirmation of the High Needs Stability Grant. However, this is not new money to fund further improvements. It recognises the significant underfunding of SEND provision and the additional spending councils have had to make to meet children's needs.

"While we are in a strong position, significant challenges remain within the current national SEND system."

The reform programme builds on Hertfordshire's wider SEND Strategy, developed in partnership with families, schools, health services and young people.

Alongside the reforms, the county council has committed to investing £140 million to create 1,150 additional specialist SEND places by 2029, including more provision within mainstream schools and new special school places.

For families in Hitchin and the surrounding area, the changes are intended to make specialist support more accessible and ensure children can receive appropriate help closer to home.

The Government's approval does not mean immediate changes to children's existing legal entitlements. Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) will continue to operate under current legislation, with any future changes to SEND law determined nationally.

In a joint letter approving Hertfordshire's plans, Government ministers Georgina Gould and Alison McGovern said:

"This approval reflects the government's view that your plan has met the required threshold and provides a positive foundation from which to move into delivery."

They added that approval was only the beginning of the next phase, with the emphasis now on delivering improvements that children, young people and their families can experience.

The Government has also indicated that future financial support could depend on Hertfordshire's progress in implementing the reforms.