Decision details

RESOLVED:

1. That the progress of the SEND Transformation programme and its impact for children and young people with SEND and their families be noted.

2. That the focus and priorities for the programme for 2021-22 to embed and accelerate change be agreed.

Reason for Decision:

The Council has invested significant resources into the SEND Transformation programme, and it is important that the return on this investment makes a demonstrable difference and is targeted for maximum benefit. The programme has made great progress already in introducing the foundations of early help and targeted support for children in mainstream settings and committed a further £79m capital investment to increase specialist provision in Surrey.

Despite the continued challenges of the pandemic and new lockdown arrangements, work continues to ensure that the vital projects and pathways introduced by the programme are delivering the benefits anticipated, including additional places for children with SEND closer to home and early support without the requirement for a statutory Education, Health and Care plan. In December 2020, following a meeting to monitor work to improve the attendance of children with SEND, the Department for Education and NHS England concluded that the Council and its partners have demonstrated clear and sustained progress on SEND and that six monthly monitoring of the action plan is no longer required.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee]