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The Assistant Director Early Help and Prevention introduced the report of the Director of Children, Family and Education. The report provided members with an update on progress of the SEND Transformation Programme. In September 2021, the local area’s services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, SEND, was inspected by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission, CQC. As a result of the inspection, the local area was required to submit a Written Statement of Action, WSoA to address the ten areas of improvement which had been identified. This was approved by Ofsted on behalf of the CQC on 28th March 2022.

The SEND Transformation Board had overseen WSoA activity since April 2022, with monitoring provided by the Department for Education and NHS England. In June 2022 , a series of ‘deep dive’ workshops took place with each of the six workstreams to evaluate progress and develop a current self-assessment.

Members noted that more places were going to be required for children with special educational needs and asked if there was a timetable for alternative premises. They were informed that there was a long-term strategy being developed for 2023-2028. It was noted that since 2020-2021 an additional 350 places had been added using funding from the DfE. Further information would be brought to the Committee as the position was made clearer.

Members queried what a Care Navigator was and were informed that the role was there to help parents navigate through the Educational and Health Care Plan (EHCP) process as a single point of contact to keep them informed of their progress.

Members had further questions on the EHCP process and officers suggested that a workshop explaining this in further detail would be beneficial. The Chair agreed and requested that a workshop be arranged.

Resolved – That the findings of the position statement be noted and that a further monitoring report be brought to Committee at a future date.