Decision

RESOLVED: Delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Section 151 Officer, the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services to approve and submit the Local SEND Reform Plan and Maturity Matrix in line with the Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England Local Partnership Maturity Assessment Guidance (March 2026).

REASONS RESOLVED:

The Secretary of State for Education wrote to all local areas and detailed the requirement to develop and submit a Local SEND Reform Plan by June 19th 2026. The option proposed ensures that we are able meet the deadline and submit our Local SEND Reform Plan and Maturity Matrix in line with the Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England Local Partnership Maturity Assessment Guidance (March 2026).

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: The Government has made clear that there will be heightened scrutiny where performance concerns are most acute. Persistent failure to demonstrate progress may result in formal intervention, including the removal of responsibility for SEND service delivery.

As detailed within this report notification was received on the 9th March 2026 with an expectation that the assessment is submitted in draft form by the 15th May 2026 to our  Department for Education SEND advisor. There is a considerable amount of work that is required in a short space of time.