The ambitious reform plan sets out how over the next three years the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead will support stronger mainstream inclusion, earlier intervention and improved outcomes for children and young people within a more sustainable SEND system. The plan also prioritises strengthening inclusion in education settings, improving workforce capacity and improving young people and their family's confidence in the system through effective collaborative working with service users, carers and communities to plan and deliver projects.
As one of the chosen councils whose plans have been approved, the Royal Borough will receive a High Needs Stability Grant allocation from DfE, estimated to be £7,761,724 reducing 90% of its Dedicated Schools Grant deficit.
Central to the plan is the development of the Experts at Hand model, a national reform initiative to bringing health and education specialists directly into mainstream education enabling children and young people, and those that support them, to get the right support earlier. The existing provision available to residents will be built on to ensure early and reliable intervention, which will be supported by other initiatives including the Early Years SEND inclusion service.
Building on partnerships already in place, the council will continue to strengthen multi-organisational partnerships for effective working. Additionally, children and young people with SEND and their families will continue to be placed consistently at the centre of the work through inclusive and ongoing direct engagement, including through SEND Voices RBWM - the Parent-Carer Forum.
Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Windsor, Cllr Amy Tisi, said: "The Department of Education's approval for our Local SEND plan marks an important milestone in ensuring our services are as consistent, reliable and inclusive as possible so that children and young people with SEND here in the borough continue to have a good start in life and opportunities into adulthood.
"As one of the local authorities whose plans had been approved, this is strong recognition of our strong vision for SEND services and highlighted areas that we'll continue to strengthen together with our partners and young people and their families."