Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB
Local leaders who are responsible for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) services in Nottinghamshire have committed to continue their work to improve support for families.
The SEND Improvement Board will hold its final meeting tomorrow. The Board was set up in March 2023 as a time-limited measure to address significant concerns following an Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection.
From April, a SEND Executive Leadership Group will meet quarterly in place of the SEND Board to drive further improvements including addressing gaps, waiting times and quality; workforce and systems development; transitions; and inclusive practice.
Since the SEND Board was established, a number of improvements have been made including:
Independent Chair, Dame Christine Lenehan, said: “Although the role of the SEND Improvement Board is coming to an end, I am confident that Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) are committed to continuing their improvement journey together with their partners.
“I want to thank all the families, professionals and partners who have given their feedback, time and hard work to getting the Nottinghamshire SEND Partnership to where it is now. There is still more to do but a strong foundation for continued improvement is now in place.”
Rosa Waddingham, Executive Director of Quality (Nursing) at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB said: “We want to reassure families that, as we move into this next chapter, we will continue to hear their voices and use their experiences to shape the work we do.
“A key focus for us next will be to deliver the changes required by the recently published Every Child Achieving and Thriving guidance so we can continue to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. This includes providing expert help such as speech and language therapy earlier through multi-disciplinary teams in schools.”
Anne Coyle, Executive Director of Children and Families at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are determined to build on the progress made so far and to working together to deliver the changes needed in Nottinghamshire.
“We welcome that the government’s White Paper recognises supporting children and families locally, at the earliest opportunity, is best, its focus on greater inclusion in mainstream education and its move to offer more help and support through family hubs. While we consider the full details, we will continue working closely as a partnership, and with families, to ensure that we remain focused on improving their experiences and helping all children to achieve their best.”
Georgina Palmer, Chair of the Parent Carer Forum, said: “Parents and carers have shared their experiences openly over the past few years, helping services understand where things have been difficult and where change is needed. Their voices have helped inform discussions and work across the SEND system during this time.
“Families know there is still more to do. Their voices must continue to be heard and reflected in any work ahead. Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum will continue to bring the experiences of families into these discussions so that family voices remain central as things move forward.”
