To consider the submitted report in respect of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The Board considered an update on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) improvement activity following inspection and ongoing partnership work as presented by the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services – Councillor Bye, Director of Children’s Services – Nancy Meehan, Assistant Director for Women, Children and Young People, Integrated Care Board (ICB) - Sadie Hall and Independent Chair of the SEND Local Area Improvement Partnership Board (SLAIP) – Alison Hurley.  Key discussion points included:

·                Significant structural, governance and service improvements have been made since the inspection.

·                Progress has been achieved in local provision, workforce capacity, quality assurance and partnership working.

·                Timeliness of Education, Health and Care Plans, health waiting times and parental confidence remain ongoing challenges.

·                SEND Reform and wider system changes present both pressure and opportunity.

Members asked the following questions:

·                What progress has been made since the most recent SEND inspection, and what were the key areas of improvement?

·                What were the biggest challenges currently facing the SEND partnership?

·                How was the partnership preparing for future monitoring activity and inspection, and what were the expected timescales?

·                How will impact be evidenced, particularly where improvements may not yet be felt by families?

·                What pressures were arising from the SEND Reform Plan, and how was the partnership managing these alongside existing improvement activity?

·                How were delays in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) being addressed, and what improvements were being made to quality and timeliness?

·                What progress has been made in reducing health waiting times, particularly for autism and ADHD assessments?

·                What support was available for children and families while they are waiting for assessment or diagnosis?

·                How were parental confidence and trust being rebuilt following historic issues within the system?

·                What was being done to reduce reliance on tribunals and resolve disagreements earlier?

·                How are the voices of children, young people and families being incorporated into governance and decision?making?

·                What mental health and wellbeing support is available for parents and carers of children with SEND?

·                How are schools being supported to improve inclusion, particularly in mainstream settings?

·                How was transition from Children’s Services to Adult Services being managed and improved?

·                What was the potential impact of wider system changes, including workforce challenges and structural reforms, on SEND improvement activity?

The following responses were received:

·                Since the inspection, there has been significant progress in governance, leadership and service delivery.  SEND services have been restructured, provision has been expanded locally, quality assurance has improved and partnership working has strengthened across education and health.

·                Key challenges include the pace of change, high demand for EHCPs, workforce pressures (particularly in health services), parental confidence, and the need to evidence impact consistently across the system.

·                The partnership is subject to regular monitoring activity, including deep dives and stocktakes.  Further monitoring is expected imminently, with a full visit scheduled for January 2027.  Written feedback from the most recent activity was still awaited.

·                While activity levels were high, demonstrating impact, particularly lived experience for families, was more complex and would take time.  The focus is now shifting toward evidencing outcomes, quality and user experience, not just processes.

·                The SEND Reform Plan introduces additional pressure due to tight timescales and overlapping improvement requirements.  Draft plans must be produced while continuing to deliver the existing Priority Impact Plan, placing strain on capacity.

·                Clearer processes have been introduced to improve EHCP timeliness and quality, including enhanced audit arrangements and feedback loops.  While volumes remain high, improvements are being embedded and monitored through performance reporting.

·                Health partners have made progress in reducing waiting times, including improvements in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) access so that children are no longer waiting more than 18 weeks.  Autism and ADHD assessment delays remain a challenge, but improvements were expected.

·                “Support while waiting” arrangements are in place, including school?based support, community provision and interim interventions.  Work is ongoing to ensure families are consistently informed about what help is available.

·                Rebuilding trust is recognised as one of the most significant challenges.  Action includes improved communication, greater transparency, regular engagement with families, publication of information, and visible changes in practice.

·                Mediation services are being used more proactively to support earlier resolution of disagreements and reduce escalation to tribunal for EHCPs.  A written response would be provided on the number of cases resolved without formal tribunal proceedings.

·                Children, young people and families are represented through formal forums, including a SEND Youth Forum and parent networks.  New approaches are being developed to engage less?heard voices through co?production and community?based engagement.

·                Dedicated mental health provision for parents is limited; however, peer support through parent and carer forums is available.  Parents can also access adult mental health services where needs are significant.  Their lived experience is recognised as valid and influential.

·                Schools are being supported through inclusion grants, strategic collaboration, and renewed focus on inclusive practice.  An education conference has helped rebuild shared understanding across the local education system.

·                Transition to Adult Services is being strengthened through updated guidance, closer collaboration between Children’s and Adult Services, and embedding transition planning earlier, particularly from ages 11–14.

·                Workforce capacity, health system restructuring and concurrent national reforms present risks but also opportunities.  New ways of working, including integrated neighbourhood teams and consistent local offers, are being developed to support sustainability.

The Board noted that the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub?Board was arranging a visit to Mayfield School and it was agreed that the main Overview and Scrutiny Board Members should also be invited to this visit.

Resolved (unanimously):

1.       that the Overview and Scrutiny Board note the update on Local Area SEND improvement activity, including governance and monitoring arrangements;

2.       that a SEND Improvement Task and Finish Group be established to:

a.       review the implementation of the Priority Impact Plan focussing on one priority area per meeting, including a consistent set of measures of impact (timeliness, quality, experience and outcomes);

b.       seek assurance on Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) quality and timeliness improvement by requesting quarterly reporting of: audit outcomes (including social care and health advice quality), learning actions taken, and feedback from families and settings about whether plans are usable and outcome-focused;

c.        request a deep dive update on Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support and inclusion, including what is changing for children without EHCPs and how the partnership is addressing persistent challenges such as attendance, suspensions and exclusions;

d.       request assurance on health waiting times and the ‘support while waiting’ offer, including how families are informed, what interim provision is available, and how equity of access is monitored;

e.       request assurance on preparation for adulthood: transitions governance, pathways into employment/training, and how gaps in referral routes and tracking are being closed; and

f.        request evidence of strengthened co-production and improved communication with families (including what has changed as a result of feedback as well as the voice of the young people, their families and carers) and how this is being measured; and

3.       that the Overview and Scrutiny Board request a follow-up update once the actions and feedback from the 23 February 2026 monitoring/deep dive are formally confirmed and incorporated into the Partnership’s action tracking and performance reporting.

(Note:  Councillor Fellows left the meeting, prior to consideration of the item in Minute 77.)