Friday 19 September 2025
 Devon welcomes Education Committee’s call for inclusive SEND reform
The Education Select Committee this week released a major report calling for a fundamental overhaul of how mainstream education supports children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England.
In it, the cross-party committee calls for a cultural shift in mainstream education, to improve inclusivity in all schools, and focus on early identification and intervention. Its members also call on Government to invest in both the education and health services’ workforces, to ensure that the health service steps up to its role in solving the SEND crisis, and to improve collaboration between the two sectors.
Recommendations made in their report resonate with work in Devon improve inclusion in mainstream schools, and to raise the bar for what pupils and families could expect as ordinarily available provision.
The first repairs of a seven-week pothole repair trial have been carried out in Devon.
Work has started on the pilot scheme which will see Devon Highways filling all potholes, not just safety defects, in selected trial areas of the county for the rest of this month and throughout October.
The UK Government has launched a major public consultation to shape the future of the Post Office, marking the first comprehensive review of the network in over 15 years.
Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, our Cabinet Member for rural affairs says the consultation represents a vital opportunity for Devon residents to influence what the post office network looks like in future.
Around 350 additional post 16 education places are being created specifically to support young learners with special educational needs and disabilities in Exeter, Mid and North Devon.
We are working with Petroc College in Barnstaple and Tiverton, and with Exeter College, where the additional places are being made available.
Refurbishment work at Petroc’s two college sites, in Barnstaple and Tiverton, are well underway, with the Tiverton facility expected to open by October half term.
Our Cabinet Member, Cllr Bickley, visited the Tiverton site earlier this month to see how the refurbishment work is progressing and talk with them about their plans.
People in Ottery St Mary have celebrated the re-opening of Coleridge Bridge this week.
The structure was lifted back into place last week in a complex operation which required a 1,550 tonne crane on site.
Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Councillor Dan Thomas, and Councillor Jess Bailey, County Councillor for the Otter Valley, were among those at the opening.
Developers building new homes across Devon will now have to increase their education contributions by a fifth to support the delivery of more school places, after an updated policy was approved by councillors this week.
The National Planning Policy Framework supports the need for local schools to have the capacity to cope when new homes are built
Under the updated policy a larger proportion of the contribution – also called a Section 106 Agreement – will go towards supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and nursery places.
 Top left, reconstructed C17th kiln, from Tuly Street; bottom right, C17th pottery kiln excavated at Tuly Street; main picture aerial view of Barnstaple Castle and the Tuly Street excavations. (1987)
Barnstaple’s rich legacy as an international centre for ceramics is taking centre stage thanks to a massive funding boost.
And now the museum is actively seeking volunteers and donations to support the next phase of the project.
The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, in partnership with its Development Trust, has secured nearly £52,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the “Potted History” project—a deep dive into decades-old excavations that promise to reshape understanding of the town’s historical significance.
 Totnes local government reorganisation event postponed
Our planned community event in Totnes next week has been postponed due to some logistical challenges. We're really sorry for the change and are working on setting a new date soon, we’ll keep you posted!
These events are all about local government reorganisation, and hearing from you about how local services are delivered and what changes might be coming.
Even though the Totnes event is on hold, you can still get involved and have your say online or at one of our other upcoming events. Please visit our website to find out more.
 Devon is joining the 2025 Rescue Me! Recycle campaign
The Recycle Devon Flag has been raised aloft County Hall ahead of Recycle Week (Monday 22 September 22 to Sunday 28 September).
Our cabinet member for Climate Change and Bio-diversity, Jacqi Hodgson and the Vice Chair of the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee, Ruth Williams was joined by our Chief Executive Donna Manson at the flag raising to mark the beginning of the nation’s biggest annual celebration of recycling, now in its 22nd year.
As part of our Outdoor September campaign, we’re supporting the Great British Beach Clean, which starts today and runs until Sunday 28 September.
It’s a great chance to get outside, connect with nature and help protect Devon’s beautiful coastline.
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