Strategy for Children and Young
People with Special Educational
Needs and Disabilities 2014 -19
The strategy’s vision
To ensure that all Children and Young
People with SEND have a full range of
support and opportunities available to
them and are provided with
opportunities to maximise their life
chances, goals and aspirations.
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Why the strategy was developed
• The need for a new SEND Strategy, replacing the 2008 Policy,
was identified as part of the Lifelong Learning Strategy (agreed
by ECC Cabinet in March 2013).
• Another key driver is the significant government reforms to
education, health and social care, including the emerging
Children and Families Bill.
• However, the key underpinning driver is to reduce the
inequalities in outcomes for pupils with SEN (35,455 children
and young people in Essex representing 17% of the schools
population).
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The Essex Picture - SEN Achievement
• Strong ‘special’ sector
• Uneven profile for mainstream school outcomes
• Statements: achievement compares with England (marginally
under)
• SEN ‘gap’ at SA+: 10% worse than England gap
• SA & SA+ combined Essex ranks 139 (out of 150)
• Causes? Leadership, quality first teaching, evidence based
strategies and interventions, effective use of resources, effective
use of strategic partners and services
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The purpose of the strategy
• Increased confidence in the system
• Identifying, intervening and supporting as early as possible
• Ensuring specialist provision matches requirements
• Ensuring funding and resources are used effectively
• Improving school experiences for pupils with SEN and their
families
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Main legislative changes the strategy must reflect
(Children and Families Bill)
• To produce a 'local offer' which details the services to support
children and young people with SEND and their families in a
clear and transparent way.
• To replace SEN statements with a new birth-to-25 education,
health and care plan – ensuring joint assessment, planning and
commissioning of services.
• To provide an entitlement for parents, families and carers and
young to have greater choice and control over the services they
receive.
• To provide greater powers for the local authority to continue
services post 18 and introducing new protections for young
people aged 16-25 – ensuring smoother transitions to adulthood.
• To extend the SEND legal obligations of maintained schools to
FE colleges and academies (including free schools).
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New SEN Code of Practice - implications
• There is no reference to stages e.g. SA, SA+, just one school
based stage and then an Education, Care and Health Plan
• Focus on ensuring pupils are being provided with high quality
differentiated teaching
• Focus on the provision of evidence based programmes
• IEPs are no longer mentioned; an opportunity for schools to
target set and communicate strategies more effectively
• Behaviour has been removed from the categories and mental
health added - SMEH
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New SEN Code of Practice - implications
• Moderate Learning Difficulties has been removed from the
categories
• Schools should meet parents of pupils receiving SEN support at
least termly
• The time scale for an EHC plan assessment has been reduced to
20 weeks
• Health must provide support identified in the EHC Plan
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New SEN Code of Practice - implications
• There is a big emphasis on the identification and support for
students with SEN being decided and implemented by class and
subject teachers (specified that support must be provided on a
daily basis by class/subject teachers…) SENCo has a leadership
role
• Code of Practice only relates to those with SEN – disability is
specifically exempted
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Priority 1 - Ensure every child with SEND can go to a good
or outstanding school or education setting
Where schools offer good or outstanding provision
children and young people with SEND can be
supported to achieve their ambitions and make good
progress. However Essex and national data shows us
that a significant number of children and young people
with SEND do not make good progress; reach their
potential and are not well prepared for the next stages
of their lives. Essex families would like to work closely
with their schools to achieve the best outcomes for
children and young people and feel strongly that
increased awareness and joint training around SEND
issues would make a significant positive difference.
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Priority 2 - Commission/deliver a range of high quality
provision for all children and young people with SEND
Individuals should be able to access a range of high quality
services when required to meet a wide and varied range of
needs. Essex Partners will seek to develop SEND
Provision in consultation with, and in collaboration with, its
customers, recognising the challenges imposed by
financial constraints in times of austerity and the need to
be opportunistic and flexible in their approach.
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Priority 3 - Ensure a smooth progression to adulthood for
all young people with SEND
A focus on a smooth transition through life stages and into
adulthood can support the achievement the best possible
outcomes for each young person and maximise their
independence, choice and control as they enter adulthood.
Essex County Council and its partners are committed to
work together to overcome obstacles and join up services
in order to achieve this aim.
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Priority 4 - Improve the Assessment and identification of
SEND across agencies
Effective assessments following early identification is the
first step in reducing the need for more costly and
potentially less successful provision later on. This is both
in terms of statutory assessment and also prior to this
assessments by schools and teachers.
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Strategy Launch
• The strategy will launch on 6 January 2014 – pending approval
from ECC Cabinet.
• A copy of the draft strategy can be downloaded from the
following URL –
http://www.essex.gov.uk/EducationSchools/Schools/Special-Education-Needs/Pages/EssexSEND-consultation.aspx
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