SEND & Inclusion

Welcome to the SEND working group.

The working group was setup up in January 2022, as part of a KAH reorganisation.  The group is now establishing itself and working in partnership with KCC to deliver on its much-needed improvements.  The group meets regularly with KCC and provides support and challenge and will often undertake various pieces of task and finish work with a focus on improving outcomes for the young people in Kent.  The group is actively seeking membership, if you wish to discuss joining the SEND group and you are passionate about improving outcomes for SEND pupils, please contact the Chair.

The group is chaired by Dean Jones.  Dean is an experienced primary academy trust leader based in Canterbury. Dean has particular interest in SEND and he is working in close partnership through his KALE work with KCC.  Dean represents primary education on the KCC strategic improvement assurance board in addition to his position on KALE as a representative for Canterbury sitting on the east area board.

Dean Jones, CEO of Inspira Academy Trust

Key Achievements in 2022/23

The group’s work has been contextualised within local area planning for SEND that has followed the outcome of Kent’s Area SEND Revisit (report November, 2022) and the subsequent issuing of an Improvement Notice in March 2023. Particular focus has been on the CQC’s conclusion that there is “A variable quality of provision and commitment to inclusion in schools, and the lack of willingness of some schools to accommodate children and young people with SEND.”

The group has worked to ensure available information is shared across education leaders and that the voices of education voices are heard in current planning through:

• Close liaison with KCC’s Director of Education and SEND, Education Officer lead for Mainstream Inclusion, commissioning teams and others
• Input into the Kent Local Area Accelerated Progress Plan (APP)
• The Chair of the Working Group sits on the Kent SEND Strategic Improvement and Assurance Board representing Primary, together with representatives of Special School, FE and secondary schools.
• Ensuring representatives on various Task and Finish Groups convened by KCC (High Needs Funding, Special School Review, Transition, SRP Review, Professional Development, Workforce and Culture)

Focus for 2023/24

Kent’s Accelerated Progress Plan was approved by the DfE and published in August 2023. The groups’ priorities for 2023/24 include:

• Supporting the education leadership community to plan for change (both those set out in the Kent APP and wider sector changes planned by national government)
• Developing a strategy, with KCC, to develop parental awareness, engagement and confidence
• Managing and coordinating consultations with leaders in relation to public consultation on locality-based funding

Membership

Dean Jones (Chair) | Primary
Ashley Crittenden | Primary
Deb Hines | Primary
Katie Maynard | Primary
Frazer Westmorland | Primary
Teresa Adams | Primary
Shaun Simmons | Secondary
David Whitehead | Primary
Emma Law | Primary
Iain Witts | Primary
Clare Butcher | Primary
Jill Ansell | Special
Jacqui Spinks | Infant
Tracy Cadwallader | Primary
Matt Tate | Secondary
Gráinne Parsons | Secondary
Robert Page | Special
Robert Garratt | Primary
Les Milton | Special
Tom Hardwick | Primary
Carrie Old | Primary
Vicki Lonie | Primary
Kris Lasslett | Secondary

The Working Group are also joined by Siobhan Price, KCC Assistant Director, School Inclusion.