The SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan provides a welcome focus on how we can both rebuild the support that disabled children rely on and restore the trust of a generation that has too often been overlooked and marginalised.
It is vital that this Plan builds on lessons from the implementation of the 2014 reforms to ensure it delivers real change for disabled children, young people and their families, and significantly improves their outcomes.
To succeed, these measures must also reinforce other initiatives to improve children’s social care and to reorganise local and regional NHS services into Integrated Care Systems.
Anna Feuchtwang - CEO of NCB
To succeed, these measures must also reinforce other initiatives to improve children’s social care and to reorganise local and regional NHS services into Integrated Care Systems. The best way to achieve this joined-up approach is by creating an overarching cross-departmental strategy for babies, children, young people and families, led by a minister at cabinet level. Their top priorities must be to revitalise the children’s workforce, ensuring that staff are adequately rewarded and properly qualified to do their jobs, and enabling mainstream education settings to be where the majority of children get support with their learning.
Bringing about lasting change will only be possible if the Government commits to the long-term investment needed to uplift the workforce and guarantee that disabled children and their families get the right support as early as possible.
More information on the Improvement Plan
The Council for Disabled Children has worked with DfE to publish a range of resources to support young people, parents and practitioners to engage with the Improvement Plan:
- A summary detailing what the Plan includes.
- A short animation with information on the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan.
- A roadmap setting out the actions the government will take.
- An easy-read version.
- A British Sign-Language version,
- A list of resources relating to the Plan.
<<< Access these resources on the Council for Disabled Children's webpage >>>
We welcome the focus on early intervention and providing families support at the earliest opportunity which is key to ensuring needs are met effectively.
Dame Christine Lenehan
Strategic Director of NCB and Director of the Council for Disabled Children
Dame Christine Lenehan, Strategic Director of NCB and Director of the Council for Disabled Children, said:
“The SEND and AP Improvement plan has set out DfE’s understanding of the complexity and level of challenge that exists in the system whilst also acknowledging the difficult experiences of some children and families as a result.
“We welcome the focus on early intervention and providing families support at the earliest opportunity which is key to ensuring needs are met effectively. It will be vital to provide strengthened accountability routes and to continue to focus on the improved experiences of children and families to ensure outcomes are met.
“We look forward to continuing to engage children, young people and their families as well as practitioners across the SEND sector in ongoing opportunities to input into the plans moving forwards.”