Decision details

The Children’s and Education Select Committee had agreed to set up a rapid review in November 2022 with the aim of investigating the pathways to finding information for children and young people with SEND when first trying to access services and support. This involved:

(a)               assessing views from different sources with regards to the availability and accessibility of information required by parents to gain support from services for their children, and

(b)               gaining understanding on information for services specifically relating to gaining help for children with autism, ADHD and anxiety/depression.

The group took part in a range of evidence gathering sessions from November 2022 to March 2023 with a wide range of council officers, through visits to primary, secondary, grammar and special schools, with lead professionals from related organisations and by interviewing parents with SEND children.

The final stage of evidence gathering with individual meetings with parents provided a crucial insight into the first-hand experiences of parents in accessing the system of services potentially available to them when concerned about gaining help for their child. This process highlighted a range of issues such as difficulties in knowing where to go for assistance, how to gain diagnoses, and symptoms being recognised and supported.

The review was chaired by Councillor Diana Blamires and comprised Councillors Sarah James, Sophie Kayani, Paul Turner and Julie Ward.  Following the evidence gathering meetings the review group then met to discuss and agree its key findings and recommendations, which were presented in the report found at Appendix 1.

Cabinet was asked to consider the recommendations of the Select Committee Review.

RESOLVED

1. That the Pathways for Children with SEND Review Group, as well as the supporting officers, be thanked for their work and subsequent recommendations. 
2. That Cabinet’s responses to the Pathways for Children with SEND Review report and recommendations, as set out and circulated to Members, be agreed. 

Note: a complete breakdown of the scrutiny recommendations and Cabinet’s responses can be found here.