Latest SEND and Independent Support Updates

Minister Edward Timpson seeks Support

Minister Edward Timpson has written to LA Chief Executives, DCSs and lead members seeking their personal support in implementing the SEN and disability reforms, especially in relation to arrangements for Education, Health and Care needs assessments whenever a child or young person with a Statement or Learning Difficulty Assessment is transferred to an Education, Health and Care plan.

Click here to read the letter.

Minister announces more funding for SEND Reforms

The Department for Education has announced it will invest a further £31.7 million in 2015 to 2016 to help local authorities in England continue to meet the costs of implementing the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms.

Children and Families Minister, Edward Timpson, said:

“Our reforms put children and parents right at the heart of the system. We’re on the beginning of a journey to provide simpler, improved and consistent help. Local councils have made a strong start in implementing these life-changing reforms, but we want to give them more help to take delivery to the next level. The timescale has always been for them to bring children into the new system over the next 3 years – this extra money will help them to do that.”

Edward Timpson has today also invited Ofsted to formally inspect local areas on their effectiveness in fulfilling their new duties. They will do this along with the Care Quality Commission and a local authority officer. It is hoped that robust and rigorous inspections will ensure that parents and young people receive as much information as possible about what is being offered.

SEND Disagreement Resolution Review Arrangements Published

On 31 October, Edward Timpson published the Arrangements for SEND Disagreement Resolution review. The Children and Families Act 2014 requires there to be a review of arrangements for disagreement resolution. The review will be led jointly by the Department for Education and the Ministry for Justice and will start in April 2015.

The Secretary of State for Education and the Lord Chancellor are required by law to lay a report on the outcome of the review before Parliament by 1 May 2017.

For more information click here.