1. SEND LOCAL AREA INSPECTION
Implementation May 2016

2. What is it?
It is an inspection of local area’s effectiveness in identifying and meeting the needs of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities
It is a joint inspection by Ofsted and CQC inspectors
Inspection of the SEND reforms since 1st September 2014 – this is when implementation began

3. What is the Local Area? The following groups are involved
Parents, children and young people
Local authority – Education Services, Social Care for Children and Adults, Councillors, Senior Leaders
NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups – senior leaders
NHS Provider Services – senior leaders
Early Years Settings
Schools
Colleges
Commissioned Short Break Services

4. Overview of SEND reforms
Co-production with parents and young people
Person Centred Planning and Delivery
Local Offer
SEND Support in settings, schools and colleges
Transfer of statements to Education, Health and Care Plans
Extension of age range to 0-25
Preparing for adulthood
Joint commissioning
Information, advice and support
Co-production with parents and young people – expectation that parents and yp are involved in all developments of policy and provision for this cohort
Person Centred Planning and Delivery across disciplines is fundamental within these reforms
Local Offer – on line resource for parents young people and professional re SEND policies, processes and services in the local area. All areas have a statutory duty to publish a Local Offer
Send support – this is how children and yp needs are identified and supported within educational establishments
Statements to EHC – transfer of statements to the new statutory process and Education, Health and Care plans
0-25 – the 2014 Act extended the statutory duty on local areas regarding SEND to 0-25 not just school age
Preparing for adulthood- the 2014 Act reinforced the focus and importance of preparation for adulthood for this cohort of young people
Joint commissioning – this is a new duty on the LA and Health to jointly commission services for children and young people with SEND
Statutory duty to ensure children, young people and parents are provided with information, advice and support necessary for them to be fully involved

5. Northamptonshire’s response to SEND reforms
Overseen by The Multi-Agency Disabled Children and People’s Group - Northamptonshire's Local Offer
Parental engagement
Person centred approaches
Local Offer was published by Sept 2014
SEN support
Transfer of statements to EHC plans
Extension of age range 0 – 25
Preparing for adulthood
Joint commissioning
The Disabled Children and People’s Group (DCYPDG) action plan is the overarching strategy to meet the requirements of the SEND reforms (add link)
Parental engagement is a key priority and the development of improved engagement with children and young people is ongoing
Person centred approaches – trainers trained by a nationally recognised organisation to deliver whole workforce training across all sectors
Local Offer was published by Sept 2014,has been peer reviewed and is constantly monitored and updated following feedback from users. A dedicated team employed to ensure ongoing engagement with service users and continuous improvement
SEN Support – through inclusion EY and schools network meetings, HT and Governor briefings, information on roles, responsibility and accountability for the SEND reforms have been shared with educational establishments. Information sessions and support are ongoing
Statements to Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans – challenging target for transfer has been set by Govt which is being implemented. The volume of transfers for Northants is high (approx 3500 over 3 years) and this together with the complexities of the complete change agenda means that all targets are not being met. This is a national issue with transfers, however, the implementation of the new person centred assessment since September are within timescales and early feedback shows improved parental satisfaction
0-25 – significant culture change for the area. Extending the reforms into traditional adult services. Links have been made and further development is ongoing Preparing for adulthood – pilot project to model best practice to inform future improvements to the meeting of needs and improved outcomes for young people post school
Joint commissioning – a joint commissioning strategy is now in place across children’s services in the LA and Health. Grant funding has been used to employ two commissioners to ensure a co-ordinated strategy and extend into adult services with parents and young people

6. Other links Care Act – Care Act 2014
High Needs Funding – High Needs Funding
Winterbourne Review Winterbourne Review
Race to the Top – Race to the Top
Code of Practice – Code of Practice
Care Act – new legislation regarding promotion of well-being for children and young people
HNF – guidance on the access to additional resource to support SEND
Winterbourne Review – report on out of county hospital/residential placements
Race to the Top – NCC education strategy to improve educational outcomes
Code of Practice – statutory guidance for implementation of the Children and Families Act 2014

7. Inspection – how it will happen
Notification call to Director of Children Services (DCS)of the Local Authority to announce the inspection five working days before the inspection
CQC inspector will notify the Chief Executive of the CCG
The Lead HMI will discuss with the Local Area’s nominated officer details of information required and logistics

8. Focus of the inspection
The inspection team will use a range of methods to gather and evaluate the effectiveness of the local area in fulfilling its duties under the Act
Inspectors will gather evidence to assess the effectiveness of the local area for three primary questions:
How effectively does the local area identify children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities?
How effectively does the local area assess and meet the needs of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities?
How effectively does the local area improve outcomes for children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities?

9. Local Area preparations
SEND inspection Board – representation across the area
Briefing sessions
Communications Strategy
Story Boards
Success stories
Report of Local area’s implementation of send reforms and action plan
Joint commissioning strategy
DCYPDG Strategy and Action plan
Data analysis
Workforce development

10. What are the current challenges of implementing the reforms?
Capacity in relation to transfers across all partners
Consistent engagement across all partners
Awareness raising across the partnership
Evidence/data collection
Evidence of improved outcomes
Engagement of young people in strategic decision making
Lack of opportunities post school

11. What does this mean for you?
Ensure that you are up to date with the most recent information
Be proactive and positive about the changes
Identify positive areas where agencies work together
Acknowledge that this is a generational change
Be familiar with the Local Offer
Know the difference between SEN support and EHC plans
Celebrate success and acknowledge that implementation has only just begun