Edward Timpson’s speech outlines his perception of the SEND reforms’ progress
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On 11 November 2015, Edward Timpson, the Children’s and Families Minister, addressed the Council for Disabled Children (CDC) conference on the progress of the SEND reforms.
‘All areas are well on with implementing the reforms:
- They all have transition plans in place and are making progress.
- They all have a Local Offer — although there is still work to do to improve their quality and local co-production arrangements. Where real thought, creativity and co-operation has flourished, it’s had great results.
- Take the good example of a strong Local Offer in the Isle of Wight, for instance. They set up a ‘Young Inspector’ Programme to increase the involvement [of] children and young people with disabilities and additional needs, and these Young Inspectors have gone on to make a significant contribution to the Isle of Wight’s Local Offer.
- Parent Carer Forums and Independent Supporters are up and running in every area.
- And it’s great to see so many Forums actively shaping implementation in their local area — in June, a survey of Parent Carer Forums said that 67% were very, or extremely, well engaged. 67% is good. 100% would be of course much better, but it’s encouraging all the same.
- And 90% of parents and young people who had help from an Independent Supporter said it was very useful, a clear justification for their introduction to help the reforms bite and enable families to be — and feel — much better supported through the assessment and planning stages in particular.’