Richmond Council is set to review therapy services for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), aiming to standardise the support offered across Richmond and Kingston.
The review, led by the Integrated Care Board (ICB), also aims to address financial pressures within the ICB and potential savings required by December 2025, which could create additional pressure on schools and local authority services, according to the Richmond HWB July 2025 SEND Futures Plan Update.
The decision was highlighted during a Richmond Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Thursday, where Charis Penfold, representing the Director for Education Services, provided an update on the SEND Futures Plan. The review seeks to establish consistent access thresholds, assessment criteria, provision, and funding arrangements for therapy services.
Ms. Penfold noted that the review is part of a broader effort to improve the local offer for children with SEND, spanning education, health, and care. The aim is to manage increased need within the current financial constraints. The SEND Futures Plan Update mentions the significant changes happening within the ICB and the savings that they are needing to make, and the impact that that is having on some of the SEND activity that we want to take forward.
Parents and carers have been involved in the review process through focus groups to gather their views on therapeutic services in the borough. These views have been incorporated into the design of the four new workstreams set up to drive the improvement work in therapies. The Richmond Parent Carer Forum (PCF) is also working with Richmond Council, the Integrated Care Board and Achieving for Children to drive through the necessary improvements and keep parents engaged with delivering real time feedback.
For more information on the SEND Futures Plan, visit the Richmond Council website.
