News in brief

A legal duty for local authorities to deliver social care for children with learning disabilities looks set to be introduced following an amendment to the Children and Families Bill. The change would see assessed social care support needs become legally enforceable from September. Prior to the amendment, only the education needs of children would come under council’s legal remit. The government has also pledged to provide £30m of funding to help families through the special education needs system and the assessment process.