The People Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 29 April 2025 to discuss the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy, and the Council's Communications Plan. The committee reviewed the SEND and AP Strategy 2024-2028, noting its strengths and areas for improvement, and considered the Council's Communications Plan.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Alternative Provision Strategy

The Sub-Committee reviewed the LB Havering SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy 2024-2028, which outlines a five-year plan to improve services for children and young people with SEND and those in alternative provision. The strategy was developed in collaboration with families, educational settings, and health and social care services.

The report highlighted several key partnership strengths, including a stable leadership team, the formation of Havering Place to integrate health and local authority services, and a high proportion of schools rated as Good or Outstanding. It also noted that Havering has the highest comparative proportion of children aged 0-5 with EHCPs in London, indicating strong early identification and support.

However, the strategy also identified significant challenges. Havering has experienced a substantial increase in its child population, leading to increased demand for services. The borough faces financial pressures, with a significant budget gap, and is among the lowest-funded local authorities nationally per pupil for SEND. The number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) has risen by 40% since 2019-20, placing considerable strain on budgets.

The focus of improvement activity includes plans to increase specialist places, review alternative provision, integrate health and local authority services, and address capacity issues within therapy teams. The strategy also aims to improve the recording of information, enhance transition processes to adult services, and increase community access for children and young people with SEND.

The report detailed implications and risks, including financial pressures on the High Needs Block and the Council's general fund. Legal implications relate to the Authority's statutory duties to provide suitable education and services for pupils with SEND. The strategy acknowledges that its ambitious objectives may create legitimate expectations that could lead to legal challenges if not met.

Communications Plan

The Sub-Committee also received a report on the Council's Communications Plan. Officers presented the plan for the Sub-Committee to scrutinise, with the aim of agreeing any recommendations or comments for consideration by Cabinet. No specific details of the Communications Plan were discussed in the provided documents.