Agenda item

Report of the Group Director of People.

The Cabinet Member with the Children and Young People Portfolio introduced the report (previously circulated) of the Group Director of People presenting the draft Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy 2025/29 (also previously circulated). 

The submitted report detailed the key elements of the Strategy; the planned implementation with partners; and outlined the strategic approach to the delivery of SEND services for children and young people in Darlington, ensuring the offer was coordinated and responsive to the needs of the community.

It was reported that the draft strategy set out the shared local area vision, principles, and priorities to ensure that partners across the Darlington local area were working together effectively to identify, assess and meet the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) from birth to the age of 25; had been co-produced with partners and young people across the borough, and was fundamental to implementing partners responsibilities under the Children and Families Act 2014; and that it reflected the ambitions and priorities of the Council Plan and other key strategic documents.

Particular references were made to the principles that would guide the implementation of the strategy; financial, legal, carbon impact and equalities implications; consultation that had been undertaken; and proposed future consultation.

RESOLVED – That public consultation be undertaken to seek views on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy, as attached to the submitted report.

REASONS – (a) The strategy is produced in the context of the statutory requirements set out in the Children and Families Act 2014 together with the guidance in the SEN Code of Practice that was issued alongside the 2014 Act.  These provisions include the duty to keep under review the educational provision, training provision and social care provision made in its area for children and young people who have special educational needs or a disability and made outside its area for children and young people for whom it is responsible who have special educational needs or who have a disability (section 27 of the 2014 Act).

(b)  Approval of the SEND Strategy contributes to the fulfilment by the Council of these obligations.?????