This meeting was chaired by Chris Baird, Independent Chair.
Rated Outstanding by Ofsted
We met as the SEND Improvement and Assurance Board (SIAB) on Thursday 29 January 2026. We began with the fantastic news about the inspection of Bracknell Forest Council's Children’s Services, undertaken by Ofsted in December 2025. The resulting judgement of Outstanding across all areas is truly impressive. It is a testament to all the work taking place with vulnerable children, and with families.
Young people's mental health
The meeting heard from Young Mental Health Champions. They told us about their role and their advice to adults making decisions about young people’s mental health.
The board reflected on the key messages of:
- listening directly
- seeking advice on what to do
- acting on what was said
- providing feedback
Board members undertook to use the video and information in their own work and the work of their services.
The board also requested that at future meetings, they hear more from primary-aged children experiencing the work of the Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme.
Stocktake meeting
The DfE and NHS England undertook a stocktake meeting with Bracknell Forest representatives in January. This took place as part of the support and challenge approach following the Ofsted and Care Quality Commission area SEND inspection in February 2025.
Formal feedback will be provided by the DfE.
Board members who attended the stocktake meeting reflected that it has provided an opportunity to:
- review progress since the inspection
- hear the perspectives of different board members including:
- the Parent Carer Forum
- school representatives
- Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- the Council and Integrated Care Board
The approach had been open, challenging and constructive.
Programme of work for 2026
The board considered the programme of work for 2026. This included:
- deep dives from the DfE on each of the different priority action areas (two to take place between February and March, and May and June)
- a further stocktake meeting in July
- a further deep dive in September 2026
A monitoring inspection can be expected in early autumn, with further stocktake meetings in January and July 2027.
There is therefore a considerable amount of external scrutiny, alongside the work of Bracknell Forest itself. To aid effective working and best use of time, the SIAB will be meeting approximately every 6 weeks from March 2027 onwards.
The current sub groups and the SEND Operational Group will continue to meet regularly to drive the work of SEND improvement.
Hearing from parent carers of children with SEND
The board now has a regular part of the agenda devoted to hearing the voice and experience of parent carers of children with SEND. The board continues to benefit from the challenge and reflection provided by Bracknell Forest Parent Carer Forum, which leads to action being taken.
January’s meeting heard and considered two powerful videos provided by Bracknell Forest Parent Carer Forum. They provided insight into a “Day in the Life” and the realities faced by a range of families, including:
- sensory overload
- persistent stress
- behaviours arising from unmet need
- the impact of judgement from others
- the role of routines
- executive dysfunction
- chronic sleep deprivation
- the administrative burden families often navigate
It also stressed the importance of neutral communication and reasonable adjustments, and recognising that many parent carers themselves had communication or processing needs.
The second video offered a narrative account from “Veronica,” a parent carer describing a typical day.
It portrayed the cumulative strain of:
- sleep disruption
- managing sensory needs
- school refusal
- behavioural crises
- lack of external support
- the emotional impact on the wider family
Although these difficulties may not always be visible in professional meetings, they can significantly influence how families engaged with services.
These were powerful reminders of the challenges faced by families and the importance of embedding understanding in practice. Board members agreed to take these videos and experience out into their own work and service areas.
The board finished on updates from different board members. These included the next steps regarding specialist provision, and a potential new free school. Details are being communicated directly by the council.
Chris Baird