New report highlights positives in Bedford Borough’s SEND provision
(SEND) or are in alternative provision (AP).
The Council is lead authority for the Department for Education’s (DfE) SEND & AP Change Programme for the East of England Change Programme Partnership. This is designed to improve outcomes and experiences for children and young people across the country.
And a new report has highlighted that, despite increasing demand for services causing financial pressures, there are many positives in how Bedford Borough Council operates.
Providing the best possible service for all our young people is a top priority for the Council, which is why we’re at the forefront of driving these reforms.
“For example, the Council finalises 90% of EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans) within the 20-week timescale - compared to the national average of 50.3%. These plans are the legal documents which set out the educational, health, and social care support required by a child and young people with SEND, so getting those documents agreed in good time is vital to ensuring our young people have the right help as early as possible.
“And this comes at a time when there is an unprecedented growth in the number of EHCPs that we assess and maintain – a 46% increase in Bedford Borough in the past four years alone.
“In that same period there has been an 87% increase in the number of Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments we have processed too.
“This is a time of enormous pressure on our SEND provision, but we continue to be one of the best-performing councils in the country.”
The update report on Education Health and Care Plans and the DfE Funded Change Programme will be presented to Bedford Borough Council’s Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny on Monday 21 October.
Kerri Rennie, chairperson of the Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum added;
“If you are concerned about your child’s education, health or social care needs, please talk to you school, phone the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS), ring the Bedfordshire and Luton Children’s Community Health Hub, or talk to Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum’s early help services.
“Our children must remain at the centre of our provision.”
