Lambeth Council is placing a greater emphasis on youth voice and early intervention in its new Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) strategy for 2025-2030. The strategy, co-produced with schools, parents, families, and young people, aims to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
The new SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy for 2025-2030 builds on the achievements of the previous strategy and aligns with other Borough strategies, such as the Education and Learning Strategy 2024-2030. It was also informed by feedback from the first Annual Family SEND Survey and a Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Review in November 2023. The LGA review highlighted the strong commitment and collaboration among senior leaders, leading to positive outcomes, particularly in education, with high levels of mainstream inclusion. The LGA recommended improvements in data integration, quality assurance, and addressing specialist placement shortages.
The Children's Services Scrutiny Sub-Committee discussed the strategy at their meeting on Tuesday, with Interim Director of Education and Learning, Sophie Garner, and Send Youth Coordinator, Lulu Pinky, outlining the strategy's development and implementation. The strategy is underpinned by an action plan and overseen by the SEND Strategic Partnership Board, which includes representatives from schools, health services, and social care.
One of the key priorities of the strategy is amplifying the voice of children, young people, and families. Lulu Pinky highlighted the Send and General Inspectors Programme, a paid opportunity for young people to review local services and suggest improvements. She also mentioned the Send Youth Council, which consists of 14 young people who meet regularly to represent the voices of younger people with SEND.
My role is about amplifying the voices of children in the Send and ensuring that their need to be involved in decision making on an individual service and strategic level basis,
said Lulu Pinky, Send Youth Involvement Coordinator.
To gather ongoing feedback, the council engages with families through in-person events, including the Lambeth Parent-Carer Forum, the Lambeth Country Fair, SEND-sational Funday at Heron Academy, and an event hosted by the Lambeth Portuguese Wellbeing Partnership (LPWP). The council also engages with children and young people through the SEND Young Inspectors Programme and the Send Youth Council.
Another key focus of the strategy is early intervention. Rosemary Merricks, facilitator for Lambeth Parent Forum, welcomed the incorporation of feedback from families into the strategy and emphasised the importance of early intervention across a child's lifetime.
Everyone working together is so important for children, young people and their families to be supported, not just in terms of education, but across all aspects of their life, including social care, health, leisure services, housing, etc. It all impacts on us,
said Rosemary Merricks.
The seven priorities of the strategy are:
- Inclusive and sustainable provision
- Effective partnership working
- Smooth transitions with early preparation
- Earlier preparation for adulthood
- Developing the workforce across the partnership
- Amplifying the voice of children, young people, and families
- Timely re-integration to mainstream for those in Alternative Provision
Councillor James Bryan asked how the council measures whether the voices of children and families are being amplified and listened to. Sophie Garner responded that the council conducts an annual family survey and maintains a relationship with family groups like the Lambeth Parent Forum.
The committee agreed to welcome a report on the strategy and requested that they receive the annual family survey. They also agreed to invite representatives back at the next milestone to hear how the strategy is progressing.