Improving SEND Services

In July 2022, Ofsted and the CQC revisited our Local Area to assess the SEND service on offer in Central Bedfordshire.  Find out more on our Ofsted / CQC SEND revisit page. 

The Central Bedfordshire SEND Partnership dashboard will allow users to navigate information underpinning the outcome domains alongside a local profile of Central Bedfordshire. The outcome domains listed have been identified through co-production with a number of partners and organisations, including children and young people with SEND. 

More information can be found about the SEND Partnership Dashboard

Find more information about the progress of our SEND Strategy.

Find more information about our SEND Governance Structures

The Delivering Better Value in SEND programme (DBV in SEND) is aiming to support local authorities and their local area partners to improve the delivery of SEND services for children and young people whilst working towards financial sustainability.

55 local areas, including Central Bedfordshire, have opted to participate in the initiative and are being supported to identify the highest impact changes that can be made to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND, and to optimise the use of finances.

Further information about the DBV in SEND Programme.

Central Bedfordshire Council, and the NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board have worked with SNAP (Special Needs Action Panel) Parent Carer Forum to agree how we will work together in equal partnership and value the independence of the forum in their support and challenge role.

As a partnership, we are committed to co-production being at the heart of everything we do, and we believe that ‘together is better’. This means working together consistently with SNAP PCF, young people, and families as equal partners as we design, develop, implement, and review services, recognising the value of working together as a way of maximising the chances of getting the services right the first time. As partners we each bring different and complimentary expertise. We strive to communicate with and involve, families in such a way that children, young people and their parents and carers can have their voices heard.

The agreement specifically addresses:

• The role of SNAP PCF as outlined in their partnership agreement and our obligations to SNAP PCF, to work with them as equal partners.
• The resources and training available to support officers to develop and embed their co-production practice.
• Central Bedfordshire Council and BLMK ICB recognise that SNAP PCF parent representatives involved in strategic or operational projects of work, represent the views of their collective membership.

The Partnership Agreement will be referred to as a best practice guide and embedded across the partnership.

Friday 23^rd June 2023 saw the publication of the SNAP PCF (Special Needs Action Panel Parent Carer Forum) ‘ Test The Temperature Check” survey results.

532 parent carers of children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) shared their experience of SEND services in Central Bedfordshire, this includes services provided by the Council, health services, schools and other partners.

SNAP PCF have made a series of recommendations to the SEND Partnership and an action plan was created to address the points you raised.

See what actions have been agreed.

In 2022 the Council conducted a review relating to the attendance of children and young people at school and in particular, pupils with and without SEND and those with medical needs who were not attending school.

 The review followed an investigation by the Local Government Ombudsman and concerns raised by an independent consultant about the effectiveness and suitability of the overall arrangements in schools and the council’s response and interventions.

 The aim of the review and subsequent report is to develop better pathways to achieve improved attendance for pupils with and without SEND and for those with medical needs whose attendance at school has become a concern.

 A multi-agency steering group led the review and listened to feedback from parents and carers, schools, and council teams.  It identified common themes across the board included children being at the heart of decision making, better understanding of the reasons behind non-attendance, greater consistency in processes, and better communication between the council and schools and families.

From September 2023 we are introducing guidance, co-produced with SNAP, our Parent Carer Forum, Schools and SEND4Change to support schools, families and professional teams on a new three tier approach to how decisions related to irregular school attendance are reached and the steps take to address this.

The guidance recognises that no one size fits all, and a more transparent system that takes into account all relevant factors will support the best decision being made for the child or young person.

Developing positive pathways to achieve improved attendance for pupils with SEND and for those with medical needs whose attendance at school has become a concern - Final Report

Frequently Asked Questions - Non-School Attendance

Guidance for Families Access to Education and School Attendance

Guidance for Schools