1. NatSIP North Regional Collaboration for Quality Service Delivery Monday 30 November 2015
Caroline Bicknell, Deputy Director
Department for Education, 0-25 SEND Unit

2. Contents SEND reforms – a reminder! One year on – how is it going?
Ofsted/CQC proposals for Local Area Inspection

3. 1. Aims of the SEND reforms
We want all children and young people with SEND to achieve well in their early years, at school and in college; find employment where possible; lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives; and have choice and control over their support.
The SEND reforms join up support across education, health and care, from birth to 25. Help will be offered at the earliest point, and with children and young people and parents/carers fully involved in decisions about their support and what the young person wants to achieve. Measures of success include:
Positive experience of the system for children, young people and families
Improved outcomes for children and young people
Effective preparation for adulthood

4. The new SEN system – Key features
2. All duties apply to all state-funded schools and colleges, inc. Academies
1. Involvement of children, young people and parents
3. Coordinated assessment; Education, Health and Care Plan
7. Offer of a personal budget; more choice and control
4. LA, health and care services to commission services jointly
6. Statutory protections for 16-25s; focus on preparing for adulthood
5. A clear, transparent local offer of services for all CYP with SEND

5. New requirements on LAs and Clinical Commissioning Groups
Work with children and young people with SEND and families.
Establish partnerships across education, health and care, including early years, post-16 institutions and housing.
Co-produce and publish the Local Offer.
Develop plans for joint commissioning.
Develop processes for assessment, planning and EHC plans.
Identify what could be provided through personal budgets.
Local mediation and disagreement resolution arrangements.

6. New rights for young people and parents
Young person or parent of a child has the right to request that a particular institution is named in an EHC plan.
The local authority must comply with that preference and name the school or college in the EHC plan unless it judges that:
it would be unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or SEN of the child or young person, or
the attendance of the child or young person there would be incompatible with the efficient education of others, or the efficient use of resources.
Local authority to co-produce EHC plans, the Local Offer etc.

7. Education, Health and Care plans
Anyone can request an assessment of education, health and care needs.
Young people with EHC plans can ask for a particular school (etc.) to be named in the plan.
Local authority must consult with that school/college/education provider about the suitability of a placement.
Final EHC plan must be shared with the school/college/education provider.
EHC plans must be reviewed annually and, from age 13 (Yr9) must include preparing for adulthood.

8. A good Education Health and Care (EHC) plan…
Meets the requirements of the Act, regs and the Code.
Describes positively what children and YP can do
Clear, concise, understandable and accessible
Is co-produced
Sets good, relevant outcomes
Tells the child or young person’s story well/ coherently

9. Preparing for Adulthood
How can we make sure young people are better prepared for adult life?
Preparing for adulthood EHC reviews from Year 9 onwards.
Better transition into post-16 education and training.
High quality study programmes including pathways to employment such as supported internships.
Multi-agency approach.
Support for transition to adult services.
Important feature of the new system: may require significant change.

10. 2. The SEND reforms one year on10

11. Progress since September 2014
Delivery partners everywhere working hard to implement reforms and good progress being made
LA implementation survey shows further improvements
Positive feedback from parents and young people
All local areas have a local offer in place and a transition plan.
Ofsted/ CQC developing an area inspection framework;
Ofsted provider inspections now include separate judgement on high needs provision in mainstream provision for FE and skills
Increased engagement from health; NHS England have ensured SEND sits within its health governance structures
Engagement from schools and colleges is good –By June 2015, 87% of LAs said FE colleges were fully or making progress in re-shaping their SEND offer
More colleges offering supported internships or have plans to do so.
Ofsted inspection framework will cover effective identification of need, effectiveness in meeting needs, and local arrangements to achieve better identification and outcomes.

12. The user experience
My feelings are that this is a vast improvement on the statement and takes into account everything about your child, including the family. (Parent)
We felt that we were included in everything at every step. We were invited to lots of meetings and were very informed at all times. Our opinions were definitely taken into account. (Parent)
The way the new EHCP has been conducted was a lovely change. Having everyone to contribute was effective and positive. (Parent)
Has been overwhelmingly positive in terms of strengthening partnership with our pupils and their families by clarifying and working towards their aspirations for their adult lives. (School)

13. Supported internships
Study programmes for young people with LDAs or EHC plans.
Extended work placement plus further study in English and Maths.
36% offered paid work in the pilot.
Life changing transition into employment.
£5m for LAs on supported internships and other preparation for employment.
Help on PfA’s website – supported internship section with advice and link to Access to Work funding. [

14. Leadership and developing the workforce
Early implementation issues
Leadership and developing the workforce
Ensuring there is genuine, continuing, co-production
Moving towards the full vision of the local offer
Ensuring all agencies play their role
Transition - statements to Education, Health and Care Plans

15. DfE support for progress:
DfE SEND Advisers – continuing support and challenge to LAs
Delivery support from Mott MacDonald, the Council for Disabled Children and the National Development Team for Inclusion, including to the regional leads
New Burdens Funding for every Local Authority, in recognition of the additional work involved, including for transition
Support for Independent Supporters and Parent Carer Forums
Ofsted/CQC inspection proposals on SEND – Ofsted/CQC consultation underway
Extra £5 million for supported internships
Contracts and grants with Voluntary and Community Sector organisations to provide specialist advice, information and support to local areas. . 15

16. Ofsted / Care Quality Commission inspection
Ofsted and CQC consulting on proposals until 4 January.
This is a local area inspection and not a local authority inspection.
Inspections should be regarded as development opportunities for local areas, as well as reassuring families on progress with implementation. They may also provide evidence for local areas to receive appropriate external support and intervention.

17. Proposed inspection arrangements
All local areas will be inspected at least every five years.
Inspection teams will include an HMI, a CQC inspector and a local authority inspector.
A notice period – likely to be short (two working days?).
There will be re-inspection activity where this is appropriate.
Inspectors will review available national data as part of their preparation, including within area inspection outcomes from CQC and Ofsted.

18. Key elements
How effectively does the local area identify children and young people who are disabled and/or have Special Educational Needs?
How effectively does the local area meet the needs and improve the outcomes of children and young people who are disabled and/or have Special Educational Needs?
Starting point – that local areas will know how well the area is doing in implementing the reforms