SEND inspection by Ofsted and the CQC

The purpose of these parent panels was to ask for parents' feedback on the draft Central Bedfordshire Written Statement of Action.

SNAP PCF is on the SEND Partnership Board, which has met over the last few months. The board gives a collective parents' view in these meetings.

We attended the meetings, to present and take notes of the feedback. All feedback from these events will inform further changes, ahead of the statement's submission deadline on 1 September 2020.

Our Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting will be held virtually on 7 July at 10am.

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Launched listening and engaging activity with children and young people with SEND, through the support of a group of partner organisations (including Healthwatch, Carers in Bedfordshire, Bedford Open Doors, Bedford and District Cerebral Palsy Society and health providers)

First meeting with group of partner organisations (including Healthwatch, CAMHS, voluntary organisations and health providers). to discuss and agree approach to asking and co-producing with children and young people with SEND.

Survey to all professionals and practitioners supporting children and young people with SEND in Central Bedfordshire, to better understand what is working well and what we can do better, together.

Met with Department for Education to discuss and receive guidance on drafting the written statement of action.

Launched survey to better understand what is working well and what we could do better.

These groups were:

• listening events to better understand what is working well, what could we do better and how
• led by Sue Harrison, our Director of Children’s Services; Anne Murray, Chief Nurse at Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group; Kirsty Green, Director of SNAP Parent Carer Forum
• attended by our senior management, along with other senior managers from CAMHS and health therapy services

Read feedback from parents and carers.

Launched ‘SEND News’ fortnightly email bulletins to parents and carers. These deliver the latest written statement of action development updates, useful resources, advice, guidance and support on education, health and social care SEND services available across Central Bedfordshire. Theme leads started to identify outcomes and action areas for respective areas of development.

Comprised of a joint-theme lead (Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and us) for the significant areas of weakness identified in the Ofsted letter. Each theme is supported by a representative from SNAP Parent Carer Forum. The group meets fortnightly.

Partnership agreed and committed to programme governance, written statement of action template, timelines and co-producing with parents, carers, practitioners, professionals and young people.

Programme team in place to support SEND Partnership (programme and project management, communications).

First restructured SEND Partnership Board held, to prepare to continue to develop and implement the written statement of action during COVID-19. Board jointly chaired by Sue Harrison, our Director of Children’s Services and Anne Murray, Chief Nurse at Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG). Membership includes senior leadership from us, BCCG (and health providers), CAMHS and SNAP Parent Carer Forum.

During this time, health leaders were seconded on to the front line and their capacity to support partnership improvement work was affected. Despite the challenges, there was engagement (wherever possible) often outside office hours, to ensure some progress in improvement planning and delivery.

Individual emails sent to all 62 parents and carers advising that, due to COVID-19 and government guidance, the Meet the Director groups had to be postponed.

SEND Partnership meeting to discuss the SEND Partnership Programme and finalise arrangements for initial listening events with parents and carers. Agreed our dedicated resource to lead the SEND Partnership Programme – SEND Programme Manager.

Five ‘Meet the Director’ groups planned over 3 days:

• 24 March
• 31 March
• 1 April

62 parents and carers registered for above sessions.

Meeting to discuss development of the SEND Partnership Programme and specifically the development of engagement with parents and carers.

Multi-agency board jointly chaired by Sue Harrison, our Director of Children’s Services and Anne Murray, Chief Nurse, Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group. Agreed this Board will be restructured and hold strategic responsibility for the development of the written statement of action.

Multi-agency board jointly chaired by Sue Harrison, our Director of Children’s Services and Anne Murray, Chief Nurse, Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group to discuss strategic partnership response to the outcome of the joint area SEND inspection.