SEND strategy progress reports

This is a summary of the progress we've made with our SEND strategy. It'll be published termly.

Spring and summer term 2025

Bengali Marketplace: This event offered tailored information on SEND services in response to community feedback, building on last year’s Somali Marketplace event
Preparing for Adulthood: Over 60 young people from a range of educational backgrounds in Camden shared positive feedback about the support provided for future planning
Primary Careers Fair: The first since Covid, it was attended by 200 children from 20 local primary schools, prioritising those with EHCPs

Parent Carer Focus Groups: 3 sessions were held to explore views on EHCPs, communication, and early dispute resolution
Young Inspectors Programme: This summer, young people with lived experience will investigate EHCP co-production

Cross-partnership audit: We started a regular audit cycle to identify strengths and areas for improvement in our EHCPs
Training and guidance: A new cross-partner training programme got underway, plus updated criteria and sign-off processes for EHCPs
High-quality advice: Work has started to enhance guidance across the partnership for better contributions to plans

Supporting families waiting for diagnosis: Data on families waiting for diagnosis is now being shared with Family Hubs so that they can offer support
Training: We provided training on autism in the early years for 20 parents
Sensory packs: We're trialling sensory packs in 2 Family Hubs

Pathway: Developed a shorter pathway for children where the diagnosis is simpler
Capacity: Increased diagnostic capacity through commissioning an external provider to complete 140 assessments and recruiting additional 6.5 members of staff to complete assessments

We introduced Service Standards across our SEND and Inclusion Service to ensure consistency in the support available and clarity for families
Relational practice: Embedded through training and the introduction of new service standards
Closer community ties: Termly meetings with schools, SEND surgeries for families, and expanded duty line support

Information sessions: We ran information sessions for parents and carers with children in year 5 to help them prepare early for the secondary school Phase Transfer, with planning for annual reviews of EHCPs underway

Policy development: A draft SEND Admissions Policy is ready for consultation to ensure consistent allocation of specialist places
Additionally resourced provision (ARP): Service Level Agreements are being drafted for ARPs to increase clarity and effective use of the provision available locally

Programme launch: The School Sufficiency Programme will work to increase the sustainability of the school system in Camden and deliver creative solutions to overcome system pressures
Data analysis: This was done to better understand the pressures schools face, particularly with rising SEND numbers. This information has been shared with schools along with a tailored support offer

Local Offer website: We'll make improvements to the website following feedback from parents, carers, children and young people with SEND, and professionals. We'll also work on widely promoting the Local Offer to help increase awareness
Improve quality of EHCPs: We'll continue to run audits and implement action plan to improve the quality of plans. We'll use the learning from the Young Inspectors Programme to improve co-production of plans
Improve the support to mainstream schools:
o Improve advisory and outreach support services for schools through introducing a Local Inclusion Support Offer and Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce
o Publish the Meeting Predictable Needs Toolkit to provide practical information and support to schools to support children with SEND in mainstream education
o Start full review of advisory and support services
Support families through Phase Transfers: As well as providing additional support to children starting year 7, we'll start working with children in year 6, including completing their annual reviews
SEND Commissioning Plan: We'll consult with schools on plans to better shape SEND provision to meet local needs