SEND News and Reforms
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The DfE have today (13 September 2017) published the September 2017 edition of their SEND Newsletter.
Also sent out this month is a letter from Robert Goodwill MP (Minister of State for Children and Families) to Directors of Children's Services about the transition to the new system of special educational needa and disabilities.
The following documents are available:
- pdf DfE Send Newsletter - September 2017
- The pdf Minster's Letter of 12 September 2017
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The DfE have today published their latest figures on SEND:
https://www.gov.uk/government/
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The DfE SEND Newsletter for July 2017 is available in the document library:
Available document:
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Prime Minister, Theresa May, moved few ministers in the traditional post-election reshuffle but was forced to act when Edward Timpson, who had held office in the Department since 2012, lost his Crewe and Nantwich seat to Labour’s Laura Smith.
Robert Goodwill has previously served in junior ministerial roles at the Home Office and Department for Transport, as a whip, and as a Member of the European Parliament. He is a farmer by trade and holds a degree in Agriculture from Newcastle University.
The new minister will have responsibility for early years, social mobility, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as well as children's social care. However, School Standards Minister Nick Gibb has assumed responsibility for mental health and bullying, and John (Lord) Nash has taken control of alternative provision.
In a statement on his website, Goodwill said: ‘As a constituency MP, I've already spent a lot of time working with families, working with schools. I understand some of the problems, particularly in some of the more deprived areas. Certainly, my experiences in Scarborough and Whitby will be very useful for me, particularly as Scarborough's going to be one of the 'Opportunity Areas', with more money going in to help with some of the social problems.’
Elsewhere in the Department for Education, Justine Greening keeps her role as Secretary of State, and Ann Milton becomes Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, replacing Robert Halfon. Jo Johnson joins Nick Gibb and Lord Nash in keeping his junior role, whilst Caroline Dinenage’s previous role has not been continued as she moves to the Department for Work and Pensions.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The DfE updated their information on P Scale descriptors on 2nd June 2017:
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/
- Written by: Brian Lamb
This data from DfE has been published today, 25th May 2017.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Department for Work and Pensions has updated their guidance to help and support for young disabled people to find and stay in work. It can be found through this link:
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Three things published by the Department for Education:
A letter from Edward Timpson, Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families, to Directors of Children Services (DCSs) in England about the transition of existing statements of special educational needs (SEN) to education, health and care (EHC) plans.
- A research report providing results from a 2016 survey of over 13,000 parents and young people who received an EHC plan in 2015, showing their views of the process and their EHC plan.
- An independent review of SEND disagreement resolution arrangements conducted by the Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR) and the government response to the review.
This sets out the importance of local authorities meeting the statutory deadline of 31 March 2018 for completing the transfer of all statements of SEN to EHC plans. It also explains that, from April, we will be collecting data monthly from each local authority about the progress they are making, and that the Department is offering support to help them to meet the deadline. A copy of the letter is attached. pdf Edward Timpson letter 30th March 2017
This report provides results from a survey of over 13,000 parents and young people who received an EHC plan in 2015. The questionnaire, sent in 2016, asked respondents for their views on different aspects of the EHC needs assessment process and the impact of their EHC plan. The report provides results for different groups at the national level and robust local results are available for around two thirds of local authorities. The report conveys positive messages overall and also indicates the parts of the EHC process that local areas may wish to develop further in terms of service users’ satisfaction.
Disagreement resolution arrangements and the government response
Following a commitment by the Secretary of State for Education and the Lord Chancellor in the Children and Families Act 2014, the Department commissioned CEDAR, at the University of Warwick, to carry out an independent review of the whole system of disagreement resolution, evaluating its effectiveness for parents, carers and young people. At the same time, government piloted a single route of redress, giving the First-tier Tribunal SEND extended powers to make non-binding recommendations on health and social care aspects of EHC plans. The government report sets out the key findings of the review and describes the steps the government intends to take to respond to the issues raised.
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