Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas has welcomed confirmation that Harrow will receive £17.374 million as part of Labour’s national programme to expand provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), promising new specialist places and improved local support.
The funding forms part of a multibillion-pound national investment aimed at creating around 50,000 specialist places across England. Mr Thomas said it would help deliver high-quality facilities more quickly, particularly for children with autism and ADHD, and described it as a decisive break from “years of Tory neglect”.
However, the announcement has reignited questions about whether new capital investment alone can address the deep-rooted problems in Harrow Council’s children’s services. The authority remains under a government improvement notice following Ofsted’s judgement that services were “inadequate”, citing systemic delays, weak oversight and inconsistent practice.
Leadership instability continues to dog the service. The recent departure of another Director of Children’s Services has left the council’s Managing Director temporarily holding the statutory role, reinforcing concerns that constant turnover is undermining sustained improvement.
Families continue to report long waits for Education, Health and Care Plans, poor communication and limited early help, leaving support reactive rather than preventative. High caseloads, staffing pressures and reliance on agency workers remain significant challenges, while placement shortages complicate decisions for vulnerable children.
Critics argue that without stable leadership, stronger accountability and a more child-centred culture, additional SEND funding risks being absorbed by a system still struggling to function effectively. They also question whether the council’s slogan of “putting residents first” reflects the lived experience of families navigating SEND services.
Findings from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and recent monitoring by His Majesty’s Inspectors suggest that progress is emerging but not yet embedded, with improvements heavily dependent on new staff and developing systems.
As Harrow prepares to receive its £17.374 million allocation, the key question remains whether the funding will translate into lasting improvement for children with additional needs – or whether longstanding structural and cultural weaknesses will continue to limit its impact.
The funding forms part of a multibillion-pound national investment aimed at creating around 50,000 specialist places across England. Mr Thomas said it would help deliver high-quality facilities more quickly, particularly for children with autism and ADHD, and described it as a decisive break from “years of Tory neglect”.
However, the announcement has reignited questions about whether new capital investment alone can address the deep-rooted problems in Harrow Council’s children’s services. The authority remains under a government improvement notice following Ofsted’s judgement that services were “inadequate”, citing systemic delays, weak oversight and inconsistent practice.
Leadership instability continues to dog the service. The recent departure of another Director of Children’s Services has left the council’s Managing Director temporarily holding the statutory role, reinforcing concerns that constant turnover is undermining sustained improvement.
Families continue to report long waits for Education, Health and Care Plans, poor communication and limited early help, leaving support reactive rather than preventative. High caseloads, staffing pressures and reliance on agency workers remain significant challenges, while placement shortages complicate decisions for vulnerable children.
Critics argue that without stable leadership, stronger accountability and a more child-centred culture, additional SEND funding risks being absorbed by a system still struggling to function effectively. They also question whether the council’s slogan of “putting residents first” reflects the lived experience of families navigating SEND services.
Findings from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and recent monitoring by His Majesty’s Inspectors suggest that progress is emerging but not yet embedded, with improvements heavily dependent on new staff and developing systems.
As Harrow prepares to receive its £17.374 million allocation, the key question remains whether the funding will translate into lasting improvement for children with additional needs – or whether longstanding structural and cultural weaknesses will continue to limit its impact.
Harrow Monitoring Group 