The Department for Education approves Central Bedfordshire’s local area Accelerated Progress Plan to further improve SEND Services

Yesterday, Tuesday 31st January 2023, the Department for Education has officially approved Central Bedfordshire’s local area SEND Accelerated Progress Plan off the back of the Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) revisit in July 2022.  

The Accelerated Progress Plan is designed to show progress against the areas of weakness over the next 12 months. The KPIs ( Key Performance Indicators) within the plan are to evidence the progress/improvement made over a 12 month period. They are based on realistic targets – we of course want to be much more aspirational in the future and have these in our long term plans.

To recap, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessed the Local Area’s (this is all partners, including Health, Social Care and Education) progress against the six areas of weakness that were detailed in the inspection report letter dated 20 February 2020. The inspectors recognised progress had been made in all six areas, with three areas making sufficient progress that the inspectors no longer require these to be monitored. These were:

  • SEND Strategy
  • Co-production
  • Local Offer

There were three areas where inspectors acknowledged some progress had been made, but changes were too recent to have an impact and be felt by our families yet. These were:

  • Ensuring that the needs of children and young people are identified and met in their education, health and care plans (EHCPs)
  • The quality of new EHCPs
  • Delivering good outcomes for children and young people with SEND

The now approved Accelerated Progress Plan aims to address these areas and it is our commitment to make sure we are working in partnership with education, health, social care and SNAP PCF to bring these three remaining areas of weakness up to where they should be, delivering the best SEND services for our children and young people with SEND and their families. The Department for Education and NHS England will be monitoring our progress.

Parent carers will be kept updated on the progress through a new blog issued by the Assistant Director of SEND, as well as updates on the Ofsted/CQC SEND revisit webpage with what work has been happening and what’s coming next. 

The local area is determined to deliver the best service for its children and young people with SEND and their families and the plan will guide these improvements allowing for this to happen.

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