Purpose

To capture and define the strategic objectives
for the SEND team, enabling the Council and its partners, to plan
initiatives to meet future needs, which in turn will improve the
lives and opportunities for children and young adults.

Decision

 
i.      
the progress made on implementing the SEND written statement of
action
to improve services
to children and families and the feedback received from the
Department for Education and NHS England relating to the end of
January 2023 is noted.
 
ii.    
that the Council has secured £1m through the
Government’s Delivering
Better Value in SEND
programme and in its bid to build a new specialist Autistic
Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special school in the Borough, to improve
further inclusive, local services for children and young people
with SEND is noted.
 
iii.   
the release of £350,000 from the Council’s corporate
contingency included in the 2023/24 budget to fund additional short
term staffing capacity within the SEND team is approved to ensure
momentum is maintained to deliver the
identified service
improvements.
 
iv.   
the SEND Strategy 2023 – 2025, that has been developed
through close working with professionals, parents, carers and young people is approved to provide a
clear direction for the service in the years ahead.