An ambitious new partnership approach to support babies, children and young people with specialist educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Calderdale is being considered by the Council’s Cabinet.
Calderdale Council is committed to reducing inequalities and ensuring that everyone can live a larger life and reach their potential.
The new Calderdale SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy 2025-30 sets out a shared vision and partnership ambitions for children and young people with SEND and their families.
The strategy has been developed in partnership with children and young people with SEND and their families, as well as Council partners and professionals across the sector, capturing strengths and good practice, and identifying areas which could be improved.
People are at the heart of the new strategy, with a shared vision that SEND is everyone’s business. It aims to ensure that there is support for children and young people with specialist educational needs and/or disabilities, up to the age of 25 and with or without a diagnosis.
It also recognises people’s diversity and wide range of needs and ensures that young people’s views are heard and valued. Work is also underway to produce a version of the strategy created by a group of young people.
The strategy recognises the challenges with the SEND system, including a big rise in demand and financial pressures across the public sector. It also highlights the many strengths in Calderdale that will be built upon. This includes the successful training programmes, supporting children to remain in mainstream schools, and the vast majority of children and young people requiring an education, health and care plan continuing to receive their finalised plan within the statutory 20-week timescale, despite significant increases in the number of new plans per year.
Key strands of the strategy and associated action plan include:
- Developing more inclusive provision in mainstream schools.
- Working with the Department for Education to progress an application for a new 200-place Specialist Free School.
- Improving support and staff expertise to help children with SEND.
- Strengthening the voice of children and young people with SEND through examples such as the SEND Takeover Day.
The shared strategy will be delivered by the Council, including social care and adults’ services, all health partners, all educational settings and partners in the voluntary sector.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, Cllr Adam Wilkinson, said:
“We’re committed to reducing inequalities across the borough and are determined to deliver for our children and young people, ensuring they have the support to help them reach their potential.
“The SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy has been developed with our partners to build on the positive and great work that is already in place and the strong ambition that is shared by the Council and our health and education partners.
“The voice of our young people with SEND, and their families, have been key throughout the strategy’s development, helping us to highlight what’s working well and where improvements are needed.
“We recognise the collective challenges across the sector, with increased demand and financial pressures, but the ambitions of this strategy are vital to ensure that provision and support is in place to meet the needs of our young people and achieve the vision for our place.
“Whilst we await further consultation from national government about the next steps and future funding for SEND, it is vitally important we continue to work closely together in Calderdale and help make SEND everyone’s business.”
The Calderdale SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy 2025-30 will be discussed at the meeting of Calderdale Council’s Cabinet on Monday 3 November at Halifax Town Hall from 4pm. The meeting can be watched online at https://calderdale.public-i.tv/core/portal/home(external link)