Newham Council is to launch its first independently chaired Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Commission.
The SEND Commission will focus on current issues facing children and young people with SEND, exploring in depth what inclusion means for our education provisions and our children and young people.
The Commission aims to ensure that partners, parents, carers and young people are at the heart of shaping Newham’s SEND strategy for the next five years, from 2022-27.
Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Cabinet member for Education and Children’s Social Care said; “Education is key to unlocking opportunities for children and young people. That’s why we are determined to remove barriers to learning to ensure that every child in Newham, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, can enjoy the best possible education.”
“The launch of this new Commission underlines this commitment and is key to tackling some of the issues that we recognise are currently facing the local area SEND partnership. The Commission will help lay the foundations for delivering lasting change, improved education, greater inclusion and better outcomes for our children and young people with SEND.”
The Commission, which launches on May 20, will be independently chaired by Professor Geoff Lindsay, who was the Professor of Special Educational Needs and Educational Psychology at the University of Warwick, and director of the Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR) from 1999 until he retired earlier this year. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience, having acted as a Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons Select Committee on Education on the Children & Families Act, 2014.
The Commission will start with a series of individual and group interviews including with Education Leaders, Councillors, Newham Parents Forum, Service Leads and partnership organisations. These interviews will develop key lines of enquiry and themes which will be explored through open-evidence gathering events for residents and professionals over the next 6 months.
Events will be publicised through the local authority’s website and through Newham Parents Forum. Residents are encouraged to share their experiences, knowledge and best practice by attending these themed events, expressing their views to representative organisations on the Commission or by emailing Professor Lindsay directly at SENDCommission@newham.gov.uk.
Recording of the SEND commission meetings will be available on the Council’s YouTube site.