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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) JSNA

Recommendations

  1. Inclusion in mainstream schools: The scale of growing demands can only be adequately addressed through increasing and better ensuring the sustainable inclusion of children and young people with SEND in mainstream settings, addressing concerns about inadequate arrangements and support. Inclusive practice in schools remains too variable. Revisit advice and guidance on Ordinarily Available Provision / Graduated Support in keeping with Inclusion Matters and ensure a coherent training and support programme for staff.

  2. Increased focus on early intervention and identification of needs: Address shortcomings in the proportion of pre-school children receiving key developmental checks and ensure this data drives prioritisation of activity. Address diagnostic pathway delays and ensure advice on accessing support while awaiting diagnosis is more widely available and accessed.

  3. Mental health support: Roll out and monitor the impact of support programmes and training for emotional literacy in mainstream settings to achieve better support for the mental health of children and young people with SEND.

  4. Support for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Review and improve pathways and services and their impact for the growing number of children and young people with ASD and ADHD.

  5. Transition to adulthood: Develop the 14–25 Preparation for Adulthood pathways to ensure better support, signposting and provision for young people as they transition to adulthood. Improve transitions into adult health and social care services for those with the most complex needs and the development of suitable provision. For those with lower complexity of needs, expand the supported internship programme and develop more consistent decision-making and funding for post-16 students that is explained to young people and their families.

  6. Improved communication and co-production: Focus on better communication and co-production between parents, carers and professionals, ensuring that parent’s and carer’s voices are heard and their involvement in decision-making is strengthened. Continue to develop the ‘Live Well’ Local Offer website.

  7. Joint commissioning of services: Explore opportunities for joint commissioning, particularly around integrated review pathways, to address potential fragmentation in the commissioning landscape. Ensure this supports early identification and intervention and mental health support.

  8. Short breaks & Childcare services: Complete the commissioning process for a new short breaks service to provide respite and support for families of children with SEND. Also consider options to address barriers to wraparound childcare, which families of children with SEND struggle to access.

  9. Quality and timeliness of EHCPs: Improve the quality and timeliness of EHCPs by leveraging the digital EHC hub and address delays in updating EHCPs after annual reviews to ensure they remain relevant and useful, especially during transitions between settings.

  10. Educational outcomes and attendance: Continue existing programmes to improve educational outcomes, maintain low exclusion rates, and ensure good school attendance for students with SEND.