Purpose

Proposed decision:
 
·      
Adopt the SEND Strategy 2025-2028 on behalf of Kent
County Council.

 
·      
Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of
Children, Young People and Education in consultation with the
Cabinet Member for Education and Skills to refresh and/or make
non-substantial revisions to the Strategy as appropriate during the
lifetime of the strategy.

 
·      
Delegate authority to the
Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education to take
relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms
of, and entering into required contract or other legal agreements,
as necessary to implement the decision.
 
Background
The Special Educational Needs
and Disabilities (SEND) strategy reflects our comprehensive plan to
enhance the provision of services for children and young people
with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. 
 
If adopted, it will replace the
SEND Strategy 2021-24.
 
The strategy is the result of
extensive engagement with stakeholders, including parents, carers,
educators, health and social care professionals, and young people
themselves.  A formal public
consultation took place during the autumn, closing on the
11th November 
2024.
 
How the proposal
will support Framing Kent’s Future 2022-26:
 
The proposal will support:
 
Priority 1: Levelling Up
 
·      
To ensure that all communities in Kent have access to opportunities
and resources that enable them to thrive.
·      
To improve the health and well-being of all residents in Kent.
·      
To maintain KCC’s strategic role in supporting schools in
Kent to deliver accessible, high quality education provision for
all families.
 
Priority 4: New Models of Care and Support
 
·      
Respond to national policy changes SEND provision,
work with SEND families to rapidly improve the service provided to
SEND children and work with mainstream schools so more can accept
and meet the needs of children with SEND, increasing choice and
proximity of school places.
 
How the proposal
will support Securing Kent’s Future 2022-26:
 
The proposal will
support:
 
Objective 2: Delivering savings
from identified opportunity areas to set a sustainable 2024/25
budget and MTFP.
 
·      
The strategy promotes inclusive practices in education and
community services, ensuring that children and young people with
SEND have the same opportunities as their peers. This fosters a
culture of acceptance and equality, crucial for social
cohesion.  It will support the CYPE
placement strategy and will reduce the need for pupils to travel
distances to access school places thus reducing the impact on the
Home to School transport budget.
·      
The strategy includes initiatives to support young people with SEND
in their transition to adulthood, including further education,
vocational training, and employment opportunities. This helps to
build a skilled and diverse workforce, essential for economic
resilience.
 
 

Decision

That the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
agrees to:
·      
Adopt the SEND Strategy 2025-2028 on behalf of Kent
County Council.

 
·      
Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of
Children, Young People and Education in consultation with the
Cabinet Member for Education and Skills to refresh and/or make
non-substantial revisions to the Strategy as appropriate during the
lifetime of the strategy.

 
·      
Delegate authority to the
Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education to take
relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms
of, and entering into required contract or other legal agreements,
as necessary to implement the decision.