Support and aspiration: Progress and Next Steps Jonathan Duff

Next Steps published today!  Original Green Paper, published in 2011, made a strong case for reform and set out a vision for a new, more simple system  The consultation had a huge response – around 2400 formal responses – and indicated broad support for the reforms.  The changes are already being piloted in 20 local pathfinders.  This report responds to the consultation, sets out the progress we have made and our next steps in taking forward our plans, through legislation and in other ways.

Next Steps: Headlines  Replacing SEN statements and Learning Difficulty Assessments with a single, 0-25 assessment process and Education, Health and Care Plan from 2014  Seeking statutory protections comparable to those currently associated with a statement of SEN to up to 25 in further education  Parents/young people with an EHC plan given the right to a personal budget for support.  local authorities and health services required to link up services for disabled children and young people – so they are jointly planned and commissioned.

Next Steps: Headlines  A new legal right for children to seek a place at state academies and free schools. Local authorities would have to name the parent’s preferred school so long it was suitable for the child.  Requiring Local Authorities to publish a ‘local offer’ showing the support available to young people and their families in their area, who have special educational needs.  Introducing mediation for disputes and trialling giving children the right to appeal if they are unhappy with their support.

Next Steps: Preparing for Adulthood  EHC Plan to provide comparable statutory protections to an SEN statement for 16-25s in further education  Young people to be able to express a preference for where they would like to be taught.  Mediation for young people and their families up to age 25  …. and redress – ideally through the Tribunal system – where this is unsuccessful.

Next Steps: Preparing for Adulthood  more flexible approach to study programmes so that young people can follow a programme designed to meet their individual needs.  expanding FE ‘clusters’ to encourage greater partnership working between independent specialist colleges, general FE and special schools  A £3m trial of Supported Internships launched in 15 further education colleges this autumn for 16 to 25 year olds with the most complex learning difficulties or disabilities.

The future: Children and Families Bill  A draft Bill published this summer, informed by early findings of the Pathfinders.  A period of ‘pre-legislative scrutiny’ across summer and into the autumn. A further opportunities for consultation and for Pathfinders to inform the development of legislation.  Our intention is to introduce the Bill to Parliament early in  Pathfinders feeding in every step of the way, and the evaluation informing how the reforms are implemented (subject to legislation securing Parliamentary approval in 2014).