This meeting was chaired by Chris Baird, Independent Chair.
Overview
The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Improvement and Assurance Board (SIAB) met on Thursday 24 July 2025. This was their second monthly meeting since forming. Many board members attended in person, aiding discussions, challenges and building relationships.
Key Discussions and Decisions
The board reviewed progress in work taking place across the Priority Action Plan. This plan was set up after the SEND local area inspection, which the Department for Education (DfE) approved.
Progress achieved
There has been significant progress in:
- the development of a data dashboard
- using best practice from other local authority areas
- responding to feedback from the last board meeting
Areas highlighted for the board's attention
The board highlighted 4 areas for attention:
- children receiving SEN support
- the growth in Education Health and Care Plans
- comparisons to statistical neighbours and national trends, timeliness of EHCPs, which has improved significantly over the recent period
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders (a national code descriptor) as primary need of children and how Bracknell Forest compares to the rest of England
More work is needed to clarify the board’s understanding of what has been achieved, what is taking place and challenges across various areas of the Priority Action Plan.
Board members challenged the progress being made in some areas since inspection. However, they understood the competing demands of day-to-day service management and the work needed for the Priority Action Plan.
Going forward
We will reflect on how to make board meetings and governance more effective and try to reduce the burden. We know that the Priority Action Plan does need to be delivered.
The board is looking to have a standing item at every agenda that considers the views of children and young people with SEND. It has asked that children themselves give their views on how best to achieve this.
We'll share an update at our board meeting in September. After that, the first newsletter will be available to keep everyone informed of what is taking place.
The board also recognised the importance of using the term Parent Carers, rather than Parent/Carers. All Board members were asked to take this forward within their own organisations.
Chris Baird