The Local Area SEND Reform Plan has been developed by the SEND Local Area Partnership which brings together organisations including Hampshire County Council, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, parent and carer forums, education settings, and voluntary organisations. The plan sets out how SEND reforms announced by Government earlier this year will be delivered locally and has been renamed ‘The Future of SEND in Hampshire’ – a title chosen by the SEND Youth Forum which empowers local children and young people to shape positive changes.
The green light from Government means that the SEND Local Area Partnership can now get to work delivering the plan and creating a more inclusive, responsive system focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
Councillor Juliet Henderson, the County Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Children’s Services, said: “We know that many families want support to be easier to access, better joined up across services, and available earlier when concerns first arise.
“This plan is our long-term commitment to work collaboratively with families, schools, colleges, health services and community partners to build a system where every child gets the right support at the right time, and the voices of parents and young people are heard.
“The Government’s acceptance of the plan is an important and welcome milestone – but it is just the beginning. The real measure of success will be the difference this work makes to the lives of children, young people and their families. They are at the heart of these plans and as we move forward, it is critical that we continue to listen and learn from their experiences – ensuring that our services are directly informed by the very people who need them most.”
The three-year plan sets out to enhance the experience of children and young people with SEND, with the aim of achieving fully embedded, system wide reform by 2029. Planned improvements include:
- Earlier access to advice and support when a child or young person needs help
- Better partnership working between education, health, social care and local authority services
- Greater consistency in how SEND support is provided across Hampshire
- More support within local communities and education settings
- More opportunities for children, young people and families to help shape services
Alongside this, work will continue to strengthen inclusive practice in schools and settings, increase local SEND provision, and ensure that services work together more effectively to meet the needs of children and young people.
Paul Richardson, Chair of the Hampshire Parent and Carer Network which represents parents and carers of children with SEND, commented: "The approval of Hampshire’s SEND Reform Plan is an important step, however now the real work of developing and implementing the plans and policies starts. The forum will work with Hampshire County Council, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and other partners to mature the plans and start to roll them out.
“Our role will be to make sure parents’ experiences and voices continue to shape and challenge where needed, to make a real difference for children and young people. As always, we welcome new parents to join us in this work by signing up to the forum. "
James Lowell, Chief Commissioning Officer for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, added: “The Government’s approval of the plan is an important milestone and gives us a clear framework for taking forward our shared ambition to improve support for children and young people with SEND across Hampshire.
“Health has a key role to play in delivering this change, but lasting improvement will depend on all partners working together with children, young people and their families. We will continue to strengthen how our services work alongside education, social care and community partners, with a focus on earlier support, better joined-up care and improving access to the right expertise when it is needed.
“We know that the real measure of success will be the difference these changes make to children, young people and their families. As we move into delivery, we will continue to listen to their experiences and use their voices to help shape a more responsive and inclusive SEND system for the future.”
Following the Government’s approval, the full plan will shortly be published on the County Council’s Local Offer webpages, which outline the help and services available for children and young people with SEND.