Recommendation 2 update
Recommendation 2 - The local area partnership should evaluate the quality and impact of services and joint working more effectively, to inform improvements that lead to better outcomes and experiences for children and young people with SEND.
What we have done so far:
- Improved the collection of data and analysis to track educational outcomes of children and young people.
- Reviewed outreach support services for SEND and invested in a new specialist teaching service from September 2024, an education well-being service and a speech and language education support service.
- Strengthened the Early Years and Childcare Service with the appointment of additional Early Years advisory teachers.
- Rolled out Relational Practice across city schools. The training offer has been provided to schools, parents and carers and professionals in Children`s Services.
- More Southend Schools have Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs), in place.
- An all-age Dynamic Support Register (DSR) is in place and multi-agency meetings held regularly to identify children and young people that require additional and increased support in relation to their mental health needs, and those at risk of admission to a mental health inpatient setting.
- Creation of a Southend Employment forum, including local FE colleges, business leaders and the chamber of commerce in conjunction with a Business Enterprise event focusing on improved placements and job opportunities for Young People with SEND.
- SEND Preparing for Adulthood (PFA) coordinators have increased their attendance at Year 9 annual reviews to provide guidance and training to SENCos.
The difference this makes:
- Additional specialist support services and the increased offer to schools, children and young people with SEND will support EYFS/ Key Stage outcomes to be in line with or better than national expectations.
- The Early Years Integrated Service including Family Centres increases support for settings and for SEND identification.
- 50% (26) of Southend schools have engaged with trauma informed approaches since September 2023, which will strengthen inclusive practice and support schools to meet the needs of all children within mainstream settings.
- Childrens Services staff trained in relational practice provides consistency for families.
- Inclusive practice across schools increase access to education and reduces suspensions and modified learning plans.
- Effective partnership working through DSR meetings ensures that children and young people's mental health needs are met by a multi-disciplinary team in the community.
- All age DSR supports children and young people that require additional and increased support in relation to their mental health needs.
- Autism Keyworkers are identified for all children/young people that meet the criteria.
- Better quality information in Year 9 Annual Reviews supports effective PFA planning with EHC plans amended and issued to reflect PFA outcomes.
- PFA planning prepares SEND young people for meaningful adult lives with opportunities for them to pursue purposeful employment and community involvement.
What we need to develop:
- Invest in early intervention
- Central Outreach Teaching Service in place to deliver individual support in schools and settings in areas of speech and language support and emotional well-being.
Next steps:
- Speech and Language Central Support project to provide early identification and effective support for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs in mainstream schools.
- Revise and implement an inclusion funding model.
- Recruit a PFA advisor to audit and scope the PFA strategy project.