Decision details

The Chair welcomed David Graham, Head of Service for SEND; Sophie Valinakis, SEND Partnership Project Lead; Gareth Jenkins, SEND Communication Lead; and Sally Allen, Interim Deputy Director of Children's Services, to the meeting.

The report presented provided an overview of information to be presented to members on the progress of the Lancashire SEND Partnership engagement with parent / carers.

It was reported that the action plan set out the changes needed to address the recommendations that Ofsted and the CQC made in their report. Working together with children and families was essential to making the plan succeed.

An Engagement Working Group had been set up which had three task and finish groups:

1)  Creating a coproduction strategy.

2)  Engagement and POET (Personal Outcomes Evaluation Toolkit).

3)  Improving the local offer accessibility and quality of information.

The group had established 'Your Child, Your Voice' engagement sessions for parents / carers of CYP and SEND.

Regarding POET, it was reported that this was an independent annual survey carried out by the national charity In-Control. It measured the experience of CYP with an EHCP and the experience of the families and practitioners who supported them. It identified what was working well and what areas needed improvement. The LCC SEND team was the most successful than any other authority in terms of getting parents to complete the survey. The survey was available online and also paper copies were sent out to the parents.  The survey was anonymous and there had been 800 replies from the 7000 forms sent out to parents.

The query of communication with parents was raised and what the way forward would be. It was confirmed that the best way forward was for parents to come to the sessions and giving feedback on their experiences and wishes. Regarding the coproduction strategy, members were advised that the team was looking at examples of best practice to support this moving forward.

A second phase of events was being set up for the autumn term and members were told that parents would be involved in these events.

The Committee was informed that there was only one parent on the SEND Partnership Board at the moment as a representation for the county. The Board had recognised that this was not enough and that at least three parents were needed. At these sessions, an expression of interest form had been set up to see if parents would be interested in joining the Board.

Resolved: That;

  i.  The report presented be noted;

  ii.  Members attend engagement events in their areas and report back to the Committee.