Brighton & Hove City Council’s ambitious plan to improve support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has been formally approved by the government.
The approval of the council’s Local SEND Reform Plan was confirmed by the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care, which recognised the strength of the local partnership’s vision and plans for reform.
This will enable the council to move to the next phase of delivery and begin implementing the 3-year plan, which aims to create a more inclusive, high-quality and sustainable SEND system across education, health and care in Brighton & Hove.
The Local SEND Reform Plan has been created to help children and young people to thrive by ensuring they can receive the right support at the right time and in the right place.
The plan has been developed in collaboration with partners across education, health and care, reflecting the shared commitment to improving outcomes, experiences and opportunities for local children and young people with SEND.
Key priorities include:
- Bringing services together so education, health and care work more closely as one system for children and young people aged 0 to 25
- Identifying needs earlier so children and young people get the right support as soon as possible
- Working in partnership with families and making it easier to find and understand support through clearer information and an improved Local Offer
Councillor Emma Daniel, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Youth Services, said: “This is a significant milestone for the children, young people and families who rely on SEND support in Brighton & Hove.
“We know that too many families have experienced frustration waiting for support or navigating a system that can feel complex and difficult.
“Our Local SEND Reform Plan sets out how we will work differently across education, health and care to provide earlier help, strengthen inclusion and ensure every child and young person has the best possible opportunity to succeed.
“The government’s approval of our plan is a strong endorsement of the local partnership’s work and collaborative approach. We are determined to build on this momentum and deliver meaningful and lasting improvements for local families.”
In its approval letter, the government noted that Brighton & Hove’s plan met the required threshold and provides a sound foundation for delivery. The letter also recognised the importance of strong local leadership and partnership working in delivering better outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
The first year of the programme will focus on mobilising the reforms, building capacity and establishing the new services, workforce and partnerships needed to support delivery. Future years will focus on implementing, embedding and refining the changes to ensure they deliver long-term benefits for children, young people and families.
Implementation and success of the Local SEND Reform Plan will be monitored by the city’s SEND & Alternative Provision (AP) Partnership Board, which includes representatives from education, health, social care and PaCC, the city’s parent and carer forum.
