Amber Dellar
@amberdellar.bsky.social
Researcher, public services @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Focusing on schools and local government, particularly children's social care and homelessness. She/her
Reposted by Amber Dellar
DfE expects every secondary school to have an inclusion base as part of its ten year estates plan. These will comprise of support bases set up by trusts and schools and specialist bases commissioned by councils. @tesmagazine.bsky.social story here : www.tes.com/magazine/new...
DfE expects every secondary school to have an inclusion base
The government’s 10-year estates plan includes the goal for all secondaries to have dedicated spaces that bridge the gap between mainstream and specialist provision
www.tes.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:19 AM
DfE expects every secondary school to have an inclusion base as part of its ten year estates plan. These will comprise of support bases set up by trusts and schools and specialist bases commissioned by councils. @tesmagazine.bsky.social story here : www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by Amber Dellar
The Government has announced expanded support for adopted children. This includes a £5m increase in funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund over the next 12 months, taking total funding to £55 million.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Government unveils expanded support for adopted children
Consultation launched on providing better, earlier, and more targeted help to adopted children and funding increased for adoption support fund
www.gov.uk
February 10, 2026 at 2:50 PM
The Government has announced expanded support for adopted children. This includes a £5m increase in funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund over the next 12 months, taking total funding to £55 million.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Time for my increasingly frequent, 'there's a clear Trend on this chart' joke
February 10, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Time for my increasingly frequent, 'there's a clear Trend on this chart' joke
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Agreed - I am surprised this size of new commitment hasn't had more attention. The settlement also commits to doing something unspecified for 26-28. A similar commitment for those years would require a further similar-sized chunk of money.
This is a LOT of money for govt to come up with, and quickly ( it's being paid in autumn this year).
It's also unclear how it plans to fund things from 28/29 onwards, when it will assume responsibility for all future SEND deficits. OBR forecasts those will reach £6bn in the first year alone.
It's also unclear how it plans to fund things from 28/29 onwards, when it will assume responsibility for all future SEND deficits. OBR forecasts those will reach £6bn in the first year alone.
February 10, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Agreed - I am surprised this size of new commitment hasn't had more attention. The settlement also commits to doing something unspecified for 26-28. A similar commitment for those years would require a further similar-sized chunk of money.
This is a LOT of money for govt to come up with, and quickly ( it's being paid in autumn this year).
It's also unclear how it plans to fund things from 28/29 onwards, when it will assume responsibility for all future SEND deficits. OBR forecasts those will reach £6bn in the first year alone.
It's also unclear how it plans to fund things from 28/29 onwards, when it will assume responsibility for all future SEND deficits. OBR forecasts those will reach £6bn in the first year alone.
February 10, 2026 at 10:41 AM
This is a LOT of money for govt to come up with, and quickly ( it's being paid in autumn this year).
It's also unclear how it plans to fund things from 28/29 onwards, when it will assume responsibility for all future SEND deficits. OBR forecasts those will reach £6bn in the first year alone.
It's also unclear how it plans to fund things from 28/29 onwards, when it will assume responsibility for all future SEND deficits. OBR forecasts those will reach £6bn in the first year alone.
Major news for local government finance. Great that there's now more certainty - without action it's likely the majority of councils would have faced 'bankruptcy' in 28/29.
But unclear (at least to me) where the £5bn is coming from. For context that's about 8% of the core schools funding for 25/26
But unclear (at least to me) where the £5bn is coming from. For context that's about 8% of the core schools funding for 25/26
Breaking: The government has pledged write off 90 per cent of councils’ historic SEND deficits – estimated to be worth £5 billion
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-write-off-90-of-councils-send-deficits/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-write-off-90-of-councils-send-deficits/
Government to write of 90% of councils' SEND deficits
Local authorities will get a grant to cover all but 10% of deficits accrued by the end of 2025-26
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Major news for local government finance. Great that there's now more certainty - without action it's likely the majority of councils would have faced 'bankruptcy' in 28/29.
But unclear (at least to me) where the £5bn is coming from. For context that's about 8% of the core schools funding for 25/26
But unclear (at least to me) where the £5bn is coming from. For context that's about 8% of the core schools funding for 25/26
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Schools in more than one in three areas of the country face cuts to their core funding next year as local authorities grapple with “mountainous” deficits in special educational needs spending. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Third of areas cut core school funding to prop up SEND
DfE urged to fix the ‘scandal’ of mainstream school funding being diverted to support councils’ ‘mountainous’ SEND debts
www.tes.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:15 AM
Schools in more than one in three areas of the country face cuts to their core funding next year as local authorities grapple with “mountainous” deficits in special educational needs spending. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by Amber Dellar
If true, this is a huge change in appeal rights...
This might be an Old Labour govt, in the worst possible way
January 28, 2026 at 8:51 AM
If true, this is a huge change in appeal rights...
Reposted by Amber Dellar
I have a report out today on the near-perennial question of why UK governments struggle to stick at growth policy in anything like a strategic way. Some hurried points:- 0/
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
How the centre of government can design better growth policy | Institute for Government
Why does the UK struggle with growth?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 28, 2026 at 8:36 AM
I have a report out today on the near-perennial question of why UK governments struggle to stick at growth policy in anything like a strategic way. Some hurried points:- 0/
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Reposted by Amber Dellar
📉 Exclusive: Classrooms in schools rocked by falling rolls could be used by the NHS as 'community health hubs', the boss of the Department for Education’s property arm has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/community-he...
schoolsweek.co.uk/community-he...
Community health hubs could use empty classrooms
LocatED chief 'seriously worried' falling rolls could undo the work of the free schools programme
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 5:11 PM
📉 Exclusive: Classrooms in schools rocked by falling rolls could be used by the NHS as 'community health hubs', the boss of the Department for Education’s property arm has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/community-he...
schoolsweek.co.uk/community-he...
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Short comment from me about SEND reform:
Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.
Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.
Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
The government should be clear about the trade-offs involved in SEND reform | Institute for Government
Decisions about legal safeguards will shape the future SEND system.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 23, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Short comment from me about SEND reform:
Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.
Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.
Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Winning the argument that any reforms to the SEND system will benefit children and young people will be key for govt
But given how febrile the atmosphere is at the moment + recent U-turns due to strong MP pushback, it is unclear how any reforms will land
Interesting from @amberdellar.bsky.social 👇
But given how febrile the atmosphere is at the moment + recent U-turns due to strong MP pushback, it is unclear how any reforms will land
Interesting from @amberdellar.bsky.social 👇
Short comment from me about SEND reform:
Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.
Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.
Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
The government should be clear about the trade-offs involved in SEND reform | Institute for Government
Decisions about legal safeguards will shape the future SEND system.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 23, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Winning the argument that any reforms to the SEND system will benefit children and young people will be key for govt
But given how febrile the atmosphere is at the moment + recent U-turns due to strong MP pushback, it is unclear how any reforms will land
Interesting from @amberdellar.bsky.social 👇
But given how febrile the atmosphere is at the moment + recent U-turns due to strong MP pushback, it is unclear how any reforms will land
Interesting from @amberdellar.bsky.social 👇
Short comment from me about SEND reform:
Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.
Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.
Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
The government should be clear about the trade-offs involved in SEND reform | Institute for Government
Decisions about legal safeguards will shape the future SEND system.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 23, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Short comment from me about SEND reform:
Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.
Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive.
Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders
Reposted by Amber Dellar
the local government theory of everything
January 22, 2026 at 2:24 PM
the local government theory of everything
Reposted by Amber Dellar
NEW REPORT: the gov’s proposals for judge-only trials will deliver only marginal savings and distract from the real route out of this crisis: reversing recent falls in court productivity.
Trial and error?: The impact of restricting jury trials on court demand | Institute for Government
The government’s reforms will unlock only relatively modest reductions in demand.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 22, 2026 at 7:41 AM
NEW REPORT: the gov’s proposals for judge-only trials will deliver only marginal savings and distract from the real route out of this crisis: reversing recent falls in court productivity.
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Louise Casey on patient/citizen choice in public services:
"I disagree with performative legislation that has no strategy, no money, no ability to get that done which turns it a advocacy, legislative, lawyering up job, which we have with SEND and potentially the Care Act, and with homelessness"
"I disagree with performative legislation that has no strategy, no money, no ability to get that done which turns it a advocacy, legislative, lawyering up job, which we have with SEND and potentially the Care Act, and with homelessness"
January 13, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Louise Casey on patient/citizen choice in public services:
"I disagree with performative legislation that has no strategy, no money, no ability to get that done which turns it a advocacy, legislative, lawyering up job, which we have with SEND and potentially the Care Act, and with homelessness"
"I disagree with performative legislation that has no strategy, no money, no ability to get that done which turns it a advocacy, legislative, lawyering up job, which we have with SEND and potentially the Care Act, and with homelessness"
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Government is looking for efficiencies within its tight spending plans: 16% back office cuts, 'technical' efficiencies as big as the MoJ budget (£13.8bn) and a reheated Sunak-era blanket 5% savings target
Some thoughts on how these all add up from the IfG's Whitehall Monitor report out today...
Some thoughts on how these all add up from the IfG's Whitehall Monitor report out today...
January 13, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Government is looking for efficiencies within its tight spending plans: 16% back office cuts, 'technical' efficiencies as big as the MoJ budget (£13.8bn) and a reheated Sunak-era blanket 5% savings target
Some thoughts on how these all add up from the IfG's Whitehall Monitor report out today...
Some thoughts on how these all add up from the IfG's Whitehall Monitor report out today...
Reposted by Amber Dellar
This is getting going now, will live tweet some of the highlights of what Streeting says
Thread below...
Thread below...
As Playbook says, Wes Streeting is speaking @instituteforgovernment.org.uk this morning
Playbook rightly points out that we gave him a mixed review in last year's Public Services Performance Tracker. If you want to read that review, link is below
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Playbook rightly points out that we gave him a mixed review in last year's Public Services Performance Tracker. If you want to read that review, link is below
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
January 13, 2026 at 8:30 AM
This is getting going now, will live tweet some of the highlights of what Streeting says
Thread below...
Thread below...
Reposted by Amber Dellar
📢NEW REPORT📢
Every year @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sets out the latest on the civil service - size, professions, pay, morale. You name it, we analyse it. This year's report is out today.
If you're interested in state capacity, you should be interested in what's happening in the civil service. 🧵
Every year @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sets out the latest on the civil service - size, professions, pay, morale. You name it, we analyse it. This year's report is out today.
If you're interested in state capacity, you should be interested in what's happening in the civil service. 🧵
Whitehall Monitor 2026 | Institute for Government
Labour’s efforts to ‘rewire the state’ aren’t addressing longstanding workforce problems.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:19 AM
📢NEW REPORT📢
Every year @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sets out the latest on the civil service - size, professions, pay, morale. You name it, we analyse it. This year's report is out today.
If you're interested in state capacity, you should be interested in what's happening in the civil service. 🧵
Every year @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sets out the latest on the civil service - size, professions, pay, morale. You name it, we analyse it. This year's report is out today.
If you're interested in state capacity, you should be interested in what's happening in the civil service. 🧵
Reposted by Amber Dellar
There's now data out about the resident doctor strikes last month
So how disruptive did they end up being? And what can we say about how the NHS is responding to ongoing strikes?
Short 🧵👇
So how disruptive did they end up being? And what can we say about how the NHS is responding to ongoing strikes?
Short 🧵👇
January 9, 2026 at 11:35 AM
There's now data out about the resident doctor strikes last month
So how disruptive did they end up being? And what can we say about how the NHS is responding to ongoing strikes?
Short 🧵👇
So how disruptive did they end up being? And what can we say about how the NHS is responding to ongoing strikes?
Short 🧵👇
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Reform councillors are trying to blame Labour's funding reforms for council tax rises
It doesn't stack up. After those reforms, 5/10 Reform councils will receive above average funding increases and none get anywhere near a cut
They are raising tax because they failed to deliver promised savings
It doesn't stack up. After those reforms, 5/10 Reform councils will receive above average funding increases and none get anywhere near a cut
They are raising tax because they failed to deliver promised savings
January 8, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Reform councillors are trying to blame Labour's funding reforms for council tax rises
It doesn't stack up. After those reforms, 5/10 Reform councils will receive above average funding increases and none get anywhere near a cut
They are raising tax because they failed to deliver promised savings
It doesn't stack up. After those reforms, 5/10 Reform councils will receive above average funding increases and none get anywhere near a cut
They are raising tax because they failed to deliver promised savings
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Wonder if a relatively small increase in local government spending on gritting this week would have lead to NHS savings from fewer A+E attendances with falls yesterday?
Potentially an example of the benefits of a more place-based approach to funding public services
www.thetimes.com/uk/weather/a...
Potentially an example of the benefits of a more place-based approach to funding public services
www.thetimes.com/uk/weather/a...
Storm Goretti: UK councils attacked over lack of grit on slippery streets
Latest news as snow and ice weather warnings issued across UK
www.thetimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Wonder if a relatively small increase in local government spending on gritting this week would have lead to NHS savings from fewer A+E attendances with falls yesterday?
Potentially an example of the benefits of a more place-based approach to funding public services
www.thetimes.com/uk/weather/a...
Potentially an example of the benefits of a more place-based approach to funding public services
www.thetimes.com/uk/weather/a...
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Foster carers could be exempt from paying council tax in the future, if North Devon Council gets its way.
www.devonlive.com/news/devon-n...
www.devonlive.com/news/devon-n...
Foster carers could be exempt from paying council tax next year
North Devon Council looks to help its 36 foster families
www.devonlive.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Foster carers could be exempt from paying council tax in the future, if North Devon Council gets its way.
www.devonlive.com/news/devon-n...
www.devonlive.com/news/devon-n...
Got 2 minutes? Tell us how we can improve our yearly deep dive into public services
Last month we published our public services Performance Tracker 2025
We're looking for feedback! If you've read the report, then we'd love to hear how you think we can improve it for next year
It shouldn't take more than 2 minutes to fill out the survey
www.surveymonkey.com/r/S33HJPY
We're looking for feedback! If you've read the report, then we'd love to hear how you think we can improve it for next year
It shouldn't take more than 2 minutes to fill out the survey
www.surveymonkey.com/r/S33HJPY
Performance Tracker Survey 2025/2026
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
www.surveymonkey.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Got 2 minutes? Tell us how we can improve our yearly deep dive into public services
Reposted by Amber Dellar
Actions fall short of ambition in the government’s new homelessness strategy
The government has set broadly the right destination for the homelessness system, but the changes it aren’t enough proposes to get it there, says @amberdellar.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
The government has set broadly the right destination for the homelessness system, but the changes it aren’t enough proposes to get it there, says @amberdellar.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
Actions fall short of ambition in the government’s new homelessness strategy | Institute for Government
The government has set broadly the right destination for the homelessness system, but the changes it aren’t enough proposes to get it there.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Actions fall short of ambition in the government’s new homelessness strategy
The government has set broadly the right destination for the homelessness system, but the changes it aren’t enough proposes to get it there, says @amberdellar.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
The government has set broadly the right destination for the homelessness system, but the changes it aren’t enough proposes to get it there, says @amberdellar.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...