Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Bournemouth yesterday, Rachael Wardell said: ‘We are yet to see a national strategy for children that brings synergy, coherence and an element of prioritisation to the myriad reforms that we're expected to implement, a strategy that delivers both for national and local government.

She added. ‘Without this we're at risk of spreading our resources too thinly and not focusing on the areas where we can have the greatest impact – keeping families safe, helping families to thrive, and to set the direction of travel for children's social care reform underpinned by the legislation currently making its way through Parliament.'

Wardell said meeting the needs of children with additional needs ‘must be a golden thread running seamlessly through our education system'.

Any reforms to SEND policies would need to offer ‘coherence with and genuine links to the changes being brought into children's social care, to the NHS and down the line, to adult social care reforms'.

Fresh policies would also need to link with a ‘well resourced, inclusive mainstream education that is able to identify and offer a graduated response to needs early on', continued Wardell.

She added that Education, Health and Care Plans ‘cannot remain the default mechanism for securing support… unless clear targeted support is developed, and crucially financed, pressure will continue to build at statutory level'.

‘This will drive delay, escalation, litigation, eye-watering costs and shamefully poorer outcomes. We need a national blueprint offering clarity, so that parents, carers, schools and professionals understand what can be expected without a statutory plan, and what a statutory plan offers.'

Health and care partners needed to be ‘fully embedded as equals with duties that are workable and enforceable through direct accountability, rather then as a adjunct to education provision', she concluded.

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Chair of the LGA's Children, Young People and Families Committee  highlighted the need for reform in children's social care 'grounded in earlier intervention; strong, stable relationships; high-quality placement market; support that reflects children's identities, families and communities; and a workforce supported to stay, grow and lead.'

She said 'councils cannot deliver meaningful reform unless market issues are addressed head-on'.