SEND Forum
The SEND Forum met on Wednesday 23rd May. You may recall that this group meets twice a term to discuss SEND issues, share thinking on current matters of import in the SEND field and act as a voice for special schools and SEND-interested organisations. The meetings are usually attended by a representative from the DfE and often other invited speakers. In addition to all the work we do as independent organisations this gives us a chance to feedback to the Department and to be aware of each other's priorities. Prior to the formation of the Forum (formerly known as the SEND Conference) the various groups acted very much in isolation of each other.
At the meeting the following issues were discussed:
- The LA perspective on SEN developments
- The Children and Families Bill
- The nature and extent of 'The Local Offer'
- Joined up working between Health and Education Services
- The Aspiring Families Project in Somerset
- The Teachers Pay Reforms
- The EFA and impact of the funding reforms in SEN settings
- The BESD Extreme Classroom Project for 2013 - World's Highest Classroom
- NAHT policies on Curriculum Reforms and INSTEAD (the proposed alternative OFSTED)
- Lobbying on the EHC and The Care Bill which has just had its second reading
- Opportunities for developing Post-16 and Post-19 provision through the EFA framework
- The academies programme and the current landscape
As you can see it was a wide-ranging discussion and the outcome is that we are pursuing representation on a EFA panel and are going to pursue our lobbying on The Local Offer. If anyone would like further information on any of the above do contact me and I will either provide or put you in touch with someone who can!
The next FLSE Exec. meeting is on 16th June so if any members have matters they wish to raise can you please pass them to your regional reps. There is an open invitation for a member from each region to accompany their regional rep. at the meeting which this time is to be held at a member special school in Liverpool.
Best wishes to you all for the half term break.
Malcolm