The new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion Strategy was approved.
Approved by Cabinet on 3rd October 2023 after an extensive coproduction through an independently chaired SEND Commission and a public consultation. The Newham SEND and Inclusion Strategy was developed with children and their families, and included extensive input from our partners in education, health, social care, and the voluntary sector.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz OBE said, “I am delighted to launch our SEND strategy for all children and young people in Newham. My 2022 manifesto made a pledge to offer every child and young person the best start in life, and to make Newham the most child-friendly borough. With our substantial investment in our services, this strategy underscores our dedication to raise standards and ensure excellent quality and timely support for children with SEND. We will continue to collaborate closely with parents, carers, and partners to deliver an improved service aligned with our five key priorities.”
Our five key priorities in this strategy are that children and young people:
- are as physically and emotionally healthy as they can be;
- have good friends and positive relationships with their families and people in their community;
- are supported to learn, earn, and contribute to their local community;
- are as independent as they can be; and
- are heard and included in decisions about their lives.
The new strategy sets out how we deliver our five key priorities, ensuring the best possible provision for our children and young people. We launched the strategy on 6th December 2023 at Newham’s Education Partnership Conference.
Through the successful roll out of the strategy, we will establish a centre of excellence in SEND Practice to ensure that schools, health partners and the independent SEND Parent Carer Forum guarantee that children and young people and their families are at the centre of our programme.
We will be hosting a series of co-led and produced workshops from February 2024 to explore key themes based on the five priorities of the strategy and how we see these rolling out across the borough. Please visit our Local Offer site for more information about what is coming up.
Yamou Njie, Chair of Newham Parent Carer Forum says, “we want SEND to be at the heart of everything we do”.