Open Letter on the SEND Crisis

by Becki Comment Closed
Educational Psychologists and relevant organisations have written to the Department for Education (DfE) asking for a new approach to the SEND system. The full letter can be found below. They are asking for: "a repositioning of ‘SEND’ within the wider education system so that it is no longer viewed as a ‘bolt-on’ or afterthought as it is now. Rather, those children and young people who need something additional and/or different to access education must be considered as central to all educational policy"....
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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Reforms

by Becki Comment Closed
The government’s long-awaited response to the SEND and alternative provision (AP) green paper includes plans for new national standards for supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and the digitisation of education, health and care plans (EHCPs). Their overarching aims can be found here: SEND-Reforms-2023Download The plans for the future system can be found here: SEND-Reforms-2023-pt-2Download The full document can be read here: SEND_and_alternative_provision_improvement_planDownload...
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Leicester health, care & wellbeing delivery plan 2022-27

by BeckiNo Comments
"The Leicester health, care and wellbeing delivery plan has been designed to improve future health outcomes of the people of Leicester. It sets out high-level priorities that local health and care organisations will work together on over the coming years. We want to hear your view on which sections of the plan should be given priority over the next few years." To fill in the survey, visit the website here: https://consultations.leicester.gov.uk/public-health/hcwb/ Survey closes on 9th January 2022....
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SEND review ‘steering group’ appointed to push through reforms

by BeckiNo Comments
Children's minister defends delays to landmark review and warns Covid has 'intensified' issues Children's Minister: Will Quince The government has named 23 members of a steering group set up to help push through its much-delayed SEND review, as a minister warned Covid had “intensified” issues. In an open letter to parents of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, children’s minister Will Quince said improvements to the system were “needed, and overdue”. The steering group will “help us move forward” with the review, he added. The SEND review was first promised in September 2019. The government has now missed three of its own deadlines to publish it, with Covid cited as a major contributor to the delays. Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said last week that he was hoping to have it out “in the first quarter of next year” so it can “dovetail” with a planned schools white paper. In his letter, Quince said the pandemic had “intensified some of the issues in the system, and...
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Parent/Carer views on how Health services prepare Young People with SEND to transition to Adult Health Services

by BeckiNo Comments
Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group are looking for your views as a parent/carer of a child/young person with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities. We are asking for your help to understand how well all health services in the City are preparing Young People with SEND for their transition to adult services. We also want to know if we have communicated well with you about a recent development that all partners across health and education are part of called the SEND Joint Commissioning strategy. This survey will help to improve and shape the service that is provided to children and young people as they transition into adult care. You can access the survey here....
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Rix Wiki

Rix Wiki

by BeckiNo Comments
The Rix Wiki pilot project is aimed at Children and Young people 0-25 who have one or a combination of the following diagnosis: AutismLearning disabilitiesComplex physical health needs where a Personal Health Budget has been allocated These young people may have more than one service involved in their care such as Education, Health and Social care. Rix Wiki is an online portal to share your story, vital information, progress reviews and other important information, etc; personal to you. You can share your Rix Wiki with people who work with you and your family, to help them to learn more about you and understand how to best support you and reach your GOALS! If this is something that may interest you or your child, then have a look at the further information and registration form: Rix Wiki Registration FormDownload The-Rix-Wiki-poster-2Download...
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Contribute your views to the OFSTED inspection of Leicester City SEND services

Contribute your views to the OFSTED inspection of Leicester City SEND services

by BeckiNo Comments
Re-visit of Leicester from Wednesday 5th May 2021 to Friday 7th May 2021. Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will carry out jointly a re-visit of your local area following the previous inspection that took place between 30th April 2018 and 4th May 2018. The re-visit will evaluate how effectively leaders have addressed the areas of significant weaknesses detailed in the written statement of action (WSOA). The re-visit will be carried out in line with updated guidance about the return to Area SEND inspection, you can read this guidance here. During the re-visit, Ofsted and CQC inspectors will be keen to speak to as many children and young people and their parents and carers as possible, specifically about the weaknesses identified in the WSOA. These meetings may take place online How can local children, young people, parents and carers contribute their views during this local area re-visit? There are several ways in which children, young people, parents and carers can engage with the re-visit...
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Over £42 million to extend projects for children with SEND

Over £42 million to extend projects for children with SEND

by BeckiNo Comments
The UK Government has announced "further funding to help raise educational standards, improve services and provide practical support to children with SEND." This includes the Government re-awarding "current contracts and grants which enable schools, colleges, families and local authorities, to support thousands of children with SEND. This includes extending an advice helpline and increased funding for local parent carer forums, support to improve how councils provide local services and improved training for education staff in working with children and young people with specific needs such as autism." Family Fund: £27 million awarded to Family Fund which "supports low-income parents raising children with serious illnesses or disabilities"Providing up to £17,500 for each Parent Carer Forum (an increase of £2500 compared to 2020-21)Funding has been extended for: Council for Disabled Children, Contact, Kids, National Network of Parent Carer Forums, Whole School SEND, Autism Education Trust, Education Training Foundation and Family Fund The aims of the £42 million funding are: Targeted support: monitoring, support and intervention to...
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SEND Engagement Survey

SEND Engagement Survey

by BeckiNo Comments
The Leicester City Council is running a survey on the following: Overview "Key partners and stakeholders were asked for their views on a draft Special Education Needs and Disabilities Strategy in 2019. As a result of this consultation, a new strategy was developed and launched in April of that year. We would now like to develop the strategy further, by encouraging families, schools, colleges, community groups and partner organisations to work together to further improve services for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities across Leicester." Survey SEND Strategy can be read here:...
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SEND commissioning strategy (Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland)

SEND commissioning strategy (Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland)

by BeckiNo Comments
The following organisations have developed a draft joint commissioning strategy for SEND to encourage and develop joint working: East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG Leicester City CCGLeicester City CouncilLeicestershire County CouncilRutland County CouncilWest Leicestershire CCG They are seeking views on the strategy and action plan to ensure the strategy fully reflects the views of those represented, including service providers and individuals in receipt of services commissioned by the organisations listed above. Online Survey Read the draft plan below:...
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