SEND update from Bracknell Forest Council

Feedback from government education experts on improvements to the borough’s services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) continues to be positive and notes good progress is being made.

On Tuesday, the council’s executive heard how Department for Education (DfE) and NHS officials were positive about the progress being made to SEND services for our young people and their families.

As part of the written statement of action (WSOA), following the Ofsted inspection of SEND provision in 2021, the council holds regular review meetings with the DfE and NHS England.

The latest review meeting took place in May 2024. The feedback provided by the DfE following the review meeting was delayed due to the pre-election period.

The key feedback included:

  • complaints within the SEND statutory service have reduced compared to the previous year’s quarter 1 monitoring period - the number of complaints in 2023 was 49 - this figure dropped to 28 for the same period in 2024
  • the DfE noted that many of the actions from the original WSOA are now complete and there is tangible evidence of the impact of this action
  • while some parents and carers have not yet seen the impact of the improvements being made, the Parent Carer Forum (PCF) was generally positive about the work being done and their level of involvement
  • the phase transfer process was effectively managed this year, with 98% of families having schools named by the deadlines and positive feedback received on communication during this process
  • a successful preparing for adulthood roadshow event was held, with 47 exhibitors and over 340 visitors - feedback from the event was very positive
  • a ‘pathway to adulthood’ guide and a ‘moving on in education’ document has been co-produced and published
  • the new additional needs info hub (local offer) website was co-produced, tested and launched, with much improved functionality and access to information

Cllr Roy Bailey, executive member for children and young people, said:

"The feedback from the DfE continues to be positive and we will make sure this progress is maintained. However, we are aware that there is still work to be done to provide the SEND service our children and young people deserve.

“It is pleasing that complaints have markedly reduced - this is an important temperature check for how much we are improving. However, one complaint is still one too many and so we must press on with our SEND improvement journey at pace for the benefit of our whole SEND community."

Grainne Siggins, executive director for people, said: 

“We are pleased to receive this positive feedback from the DfE and acknowledgment of the continued progress being made with our SEND provision. The partnerships with health services and the Parent Carer Forum is working well and we can assure parents and carers that we remain focussed on improving services and increasing the number of local school places for our children and young people with special educational needs.”