The Health and Wellbeing Board gave consideration to a report of the Director of Children’s Services that informed that the local authority with Local Area partners in Health and Social Care were conducting extensive consultation around the new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy. The report served to provide a brief update. The appendices to the report contained the Special Educational Needs (SEND) Strategy 2020-2024, Consultation Questionnaire and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Strategy, 2020-2024 Consultation.  It was reported that, to date, headteachers and representatives of the Local Area had contributed to producing the proposed strategic priorities. The Local Area was keen to know the views of all stakeholders as these views were important in shaping the strategy.  All responses were to be completed online or returned by March 13, 2020 and a questionnaire issued for young people to gain their views.

Tarun Ghosh, Head of SEND and Inclusion, informed the Board that a great deal of work had already been done and emphasised the importance that the people of Wirral, children and young people participate in the consultation as the authority was keen to gain people’s views.  There had been a positive start to the consultation as Wirral had a strong Youth Voice and the deadline had now been extended until the ‘Your future Your Voice’ event at the Floral Pavilion had taken place in order that those views not already given might be captured. The deadline had therefore been extended to 2 April 2020.

The report highlighted that all children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) were entitled to an education that enabled them to achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes. The new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy brought a sharp focus on early identification of need(s), assessment of need(s) and provision to meet need(s).  The combination of the three approaches would lead to better outcomes for children/young people (CYP).  The report also set out the main overarching priority – to improve the quality of provision and outcomes for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and the three subsidiary priorities - to ensure early identification of special education needs and high quality intervention particularly for children and young people exhibiting social, emotional and mental health issues, further develop effective transition from one education phase/setting including preparing for adulthood pathway and to further develop participation, engagement and coproduction with children, young people, parents and carers.

Members of the Board welcomed the consultation.  The Director for Health and Care commended and supported its aims in preparing the pathway to adulthood and in raising the aspiration and equal opportunities for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  The Director for Children’s Services also commented that this was a plan for life for young people – up to the age of 25 years.

On behalf of the Board the Chair thanked Tarun Ghosh for his update and it was;

Resolved: - That;

1  the report be noted.

2  further reports be brought to future meetings of the Health and Wellbeing Board.