Nottinghamshire 7 February 2014 Matthew Dodd Principal Officer Council for Disabled Children Overview of the Children and Families Bill

An overview of the main clauses in the Bill The new SEN Code of Practice - ‘SEN support’ 3 questions for you to take away This session:

Where are we in the process?

SEN reform 2011 MarSupport and Aspiration: A new approach to SEN and disability 2011 SepPathfinders announced 2013 FebChildren and Families Bill introduced into Parliament Early 2014Royal Assent 2014 SpringRegulations Final Code of Practice laid before Parliament 2014 SeptImplementation

An important reminder: All current requirements stay in place until: new legislation is implemented new regulations come into force new Code of Practice is issued

Principles General principles for local authorities: views, wishes and feelings of children, young people, parents importance of full participation importance of information and support children’s development and best possible outcomes Disability in Part 3 Children and Families Bill

Children and Families Bill: Part 3 Principles Definitions and scope Local integration of health, care and education and joint commissioning Education, health and care needs assessment & plans Personal budgets Local offer Schools’ provisions SEN Code of Practice

Definitions and scope SEN definition the same From birth and up to 25 Young offenders LA and all children & young people in area with SEN: –LA to identify –LA responsibility Disabled children covered if they have SEN - Equality Act duties for disabled children, no SEN All schools’ duties apply to directly to academies

Local integration of health, care and education Integrate services to promote the well-being Joint commissioning by LAs & CCGs LAs to keep education & social care under review Requirement to co-operate to meet EHC needs: –Schools –Colleges –Local authorities, including social care –Alternative provision –Health agencies

Changing health structures Health and Well-being Boards Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Health and Well-being Strategies Arrangements for co-operation to improve children’s well-being Work in 2012 by Children and Young people’s Health Outcomes Forum Healthwatch

Local offer Support available for children and young people with SEN Regulations: –what the local offer should include –who should be consulted –complaints mechanism Develop the offer with parents, schools, colleges, other services Must include provision to support transition to adulthood

Education, health and care needs assessment & plans EHC plans replace statements and 139A assessments EHCP extends to FE, training, an apprenticeship or if ‘NEET’ (not in education, employment or training) Other provisions similar to a statement Regulations set out how assessment conducted Duty to secure special educational provision set out in EHCP Duty to secure health care and social care provision Rights of appeal the same, but include FE

School provisions Provisions apply to academies Requirements to: –have a SENCO –inform parents if child has SEN –inform young people –use ‘best endeavours,’ schools and FE –publish information on how they meet the needs of children with SEN

Draft SEN Code of Practice Revised Code of Practice Removal of School Action and School Action Plus; introduction of ‘SEN Support’, graduated response External specialists can be accessed at any point Individual education plans will not be required by the Code; requirement to keep records Evidence of a relevant and purposeful response Threshold for statutory assessment the same

3 questions for you to take away Have you discussed the local offer with the local authority? How will you develop ‘SEN support’? How will the you be involved in the transition to EHC plans?

You could… Review what you currently provide from their delegated budget Consider how you might want to influence services commissioned by health and/or the local authority Develop links with the relevant officer in the local authority and inquire about initial publication of the local offer

You could… Plan how to discuss the changes with parents and children who are currently on School Action/School Action Plus Review how parents, children and young people are engaged in the process Consider how you are going to introduce ‘SEN support’ into your college

You could… Engage with the local authority to: –Find out what role you are expected to play in converting statements to EHC plans. –Find out which year groups are likely to have priority. –Identify the individual children with statements or LDAs who may need to move to an EHC plan in Autumn 2014

Council for Disabled Children website Council for Disabled Children 8, Wakley Street London EC1V 7QE tel: +44 (0) fax: +44 (0)