Review of special educational needs
Education leaders in Wolverhampton are redeveloping the way in which specific special educational needs (SEND) are evaluated.
A new report to the council’s Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Panel this week outlines the importance of self-evaluation within the system and identifies areas of strength and those requiring development.
The city’s SEND department carries out an area inspection – jointly undertaken by OFSTED and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – to consider whether children and young people are achieving the best possible education.
This goes alongside other lifestyle advantages such as being able to live and travel independently, and secure meaningful employment as young adults.
Wolverhampton’s Head of SEND, Adrian Leach, said: “This inspection provides children and young people, parents, elected council members, providers and local leaders an accurate assessment of how well the local area is doing against the national framework criteria.
“It also promotes improvement in the local area with regard to education, care and health provisions.
“The starting point for this inspection is that the local area should have a good understanding of its own effectiveness. Leaders are required to accurately assess how well the local area meets its responsibilities, including an understanding of points of strength and those requiring further development.
“We have recently made a significant change to our Self Evaluation Form (SEF). This has been done deliberately to ensure that any issues arising can be easily revisited, monitored, updated and refined,” he added.
A ‘Spotlight of SEND’ day for parents, carers, young people and a broad range of professionals from across the system has been planned by the council for October 4.
Mr Leach said the basic framework of the inspection considered three main points for children and young people with SEND, which he listed as: how effectively does the local area identify children and young people who have SEND; how effectively do they assess and meet the needs of people and how effectively do they improve outcomes?
“Among the strengths we have identified in Wolverhampton are that we have strong senior leaders who are committed to these reforms,” he added.
“We also have very close-working partnerships between health, social care and education departments as well as a strong multi-agency approach to making improvements.
“Areas of development that we are looking at include introducing a charter which will outline the city’s commitment to working with children, young people and families to provide the best possible services at all times.
“More parent feedback sessions are also being scheduled to help understand any barriers preventing improvement.”
The council’s Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Panel will discuss the issue on September 25, and a progress report will be shared with members before the end of November.
