Agenda item

Report CSD19176

The Board considered a report providing an update on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) reforms.

The London Borough of Bromley (LBB), NHS Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (Bromley CCG) and partners shared a strong and clearly stated commitment to improving the education, health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and / or disabilities (SEND). This commitment came from the highest levels and was implemented through effective joint governance (SEND Governance Board) which was driving rapid improvement.

As reported at the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board in May 2019, it had been anticipated that the Ofsted / CQC SEND Local Area inspection would take place within the calendar year. The inspection was announced on Monday 9^th September, and took place between 16^th and 20^th September 2019. The inspection provided a real opportunity to evidence the local area’s hard work and the shared commitment to improving services and support for children and young people with special educational needs and / or disabilities and their families.

The inspection focused on three key areas:

·  How effectively the local area identified children and young people with special educational needs and / or disabilities

·  How effectively the local area assessed and met the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and / or disabilities

·  How effectively the local area improved outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and / or disabilities

During the inspection week, inspectors from Ofsted and the CQC held a series of meetings and focus groups, which included staff from LBB and Bromley CCG. In addition, there was broad representation from partners, providers and families across the local area at the focus groups. The focus groups covered sixteen areas, such as identification of SEND and early intervention and support for children with disabilities and transition to adulthood, and provided positive feedback on partnership working. Inspectors also visited a number of schools and settings, and a closed session was held with a group of parent carers.

Through the self-evaluation of the local area, inspectors were provided with areas of strengths, together with the focus for improvements. The strategy and action plan reflected the commitment for improvement. The Head of Service for Special Educational Needs informed the Board that the inspection report had been finalised, however due to the general election, Ofsted would not release the document during Purdah. The report would now be published after the general election and until that time, it was not possible to provide any details of the findings. The Chairman invited the Head of Service for Special Educational Needs to present the findings of the SEND inspection to a future meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

In relation to areas for improvement, the Head of Service for Special Educational Needs highlighted that they wanted to strengthen their engagement with children and young people, and were considering innovative ways in which to do this. The Board were advised that quarterly reports were provided to the SEND Governance Board, and it was agreed that these documents could be provided to Members following the meeting.

In response to a question, the Head of Service for Special Educational Needs said that an increase in the number of children and young people with statements or EHC Plans had increased since the introduction of the Children and Families Act 2014 due to the broadening of the cohort. This was previously statutory school age, and now supported children and young people from 0-25 years. It was noted that more Bromley children (than nationally) attended a non-maintained or independent school, often outside of the borough – although local specialist provision was often considered to be of a better quality, due to their ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted ratings. Independent settings offered a holistic approach, providing therapists and psychologists, and some parents / carers felt that they provided a more appropriate setting for their children. Bromley was not alone in having a gap in provision and Bromley were intending to open a Special Free School for children in Key Stage 2 in September 2021. Bromley were currently working in partnership with the DfE to determine a successful Trust to deliver the school through a tendering process and it was hoped that the decision would be announced in spring 2020.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.