Paul Boyce, Director for Children, Families and Education introduced his report that set out the Local Area Strategy for improving outcomes and life chances for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Appendix 1 to the report contained the SEND Strategy and Appendix 2 the contained the SEND Improvement Plan. The Director thanked Sue Talbot, Assistant Director: Education for her involvement in the preparation of the report and introduced two key officers who would update Members on the Strategy - Tarun Ghosh, Head of Service SEND and Inclusion at Wirral Council and Richard Crockford, Deputy Director for Quality & Safety Wirral CCG, and lead officer on SEND.

The report informed that for many families, feedback had indicated that the SEND reforms had brought about positive change, but for some the process had been troublesome and not easy to navigate.

The strategy focused on reducing inequality and links to two Council priorities:-

• Brighter futures for young people and families – regardless of their background or where they live
• Services which help people live happy, healthy, independent, and active lifestyles, with public services there to support them when they needed it.

It was reported that considerable consultation had been undertaken to determine the key priorities. Two SEND summits had been held with over 150 stakeholders across the Local Area attending. Feedback had been received from the SEND Youth Voice group, Parent Carer Partnership Wirral, parents, and SEN support young people. Over 250 young SEND people had engaged in the consultation and shaped the four priorities. The main priority was to improve the quality of provision and outcomes for young people with SEND. To do this the focus was on:-

• Identifying needs at the earliest point and providing the appropriate support.
• Ensuring that young people were ready for each stage of their school life and prepared for adulthood.
• Increasing participation and engagement young people and their families. In doing so ensuring that all changes to policy/processes takes account of the views of young people, their parents, and carers as well as professionals.

Members questioned the officers on the content of the report, and the officers responded accordingly.

It was:

Moved by Councillor Wendy Clements; and

Seconded by Councillor Chris Carubia

and

RESOLVED – That

(1)  the Local Area SEND Strategy be supported; and

(2)  a copy of the Local Area SEND Improvement plan be circulated to Members following the meeting, with an update on progress to be presented to the January meeting of the Children, Young People and Education Committee.