Leeds SEND Inclusion Strategy Briefing Note
Briefing Note for Schools and Education Settings 2019
Making Leeds a great place to learn for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities: the Leeds SEND Inclusion Strategy
Introduction
A major drive of the SEND strategy 2014-2017 was focused on the implementation of the Children and Families Act. The essential building blocks of the reforms have been now delivered.
We have updated our SEND position statement with the approval of the SEND partnership board and will consult on the document with stakeholders.
Partners in Leeds are confident that, together, we can meet the challenge and make the changes necessary to transform the lives of the children and young people with SEND.
Our strategic intentions
We believe that, to truly deliver improved outcomes for our SEND population, the SEND Inclusion Strategy needs to become a joint strategy with education, health and social care. We therefore intend to completely revise the current SEND strategy, policy and governance structure to support joint working to improve outcomes.
The current SEND strategy, while in line with statutory requirements, has a disproportionate focus on education. Improving the outcomes of vulnerable learners, including those with SEND, is a priority across education, health and social care and a joint responsibility.
The Children and Families directorate have reviewed and re-shaped their structure. While the SEND agenda is within the learning directorate under the Head of Learning Inclusion, the new structure has a greater focus on raising educational outcomes for vulnerable learners through joint working and new ways of commissioning.
Our vision for all children and young people with SEND is that they have the right support and opportunities at the right time so that achieve their potential and are happy, healthy and independent adults leading fulfilling lives.
The revised SEND Inclusion Strategy will adopt a joint approach, based on the Children and Young People’s Plan Outcomes, so every child and young person with SEND can:
Attend and attain in inclusive schools and other settings
Achieve in wider life
Enjoy healthy lifestyles
Have voice and influence
Have joined up support for their family
Governance changes to support a joint approach and new ways of commissioning:
The SEND Partnership Board will offer governance and monitoring oversight of the SEND Inclusion Strategy and priorities identified
Under the SEND Partnership Board a SEND Practice Improvement Board, chaired by the Deputy Director for Learning, will ensure the operational implementation of the SEND Inclusion Strategy
Subgroups and task and finish groups for each priority will be created reporting to the SEND Practice Improvement Board
Named senior managers responsible for each group will report progress to the SEND Practice Improvement Board and the SEND Partnership Board
Strategic context of development
Leeds 2030, our vision to be the best city in the UK: Vision for Leeds 2011 to 2030
Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy 2018 to 2023
Leeds Children and Young People’s Plan 2018 to 2023
The Leeds 3As Strategy: Attend, Attain, Achieve
Future in Mind: Leeds 2016 -2020
Leeds Preparing for Adulthood Strategy 2017 - 2022
Children’s Services Improvement Plan 2019 - 2020
Strategic review of specialist provision for SEND 2018
Current Position Statement
The document outlining our position is available on the Leeds City Council Website
https://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/SEND%20position%20statement.pdf
Val Waite
Head of Learning Inclusion
