Bexley’s new Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) & Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) Strategy 2024 was approved by Members at last week’s (11 July) Cabinet Meeting.
The Strategy brings together the support provided by health, social care and education and partners across the local area who support local children and young people with SEND.
It sets out Bexley’s vision that: “All children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities, aged 0-25, are given the support and opportunities to achieve their best outcomes according to their aspirations.”
To deliver the vision the Strategy outlines three key ambitions:
- Children and young people with SEND have access to the right support at the right time and in the right place.
- Children and young people with SEND have opportunities to live a fulfilled adulthood.
- Bexley, as a Local Area, works together to use available resources in the most creative and inclusive way, to meet the individual needs of our children and young people with SEND.
An agreed rolling action plan sets out specific actions to deliver the ambitions taking account of feedback from children, young people and families.
At the meeting, Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Caroline Newton thanked officers, partners and young people for the work involved in developing the strategy.
Cllr Newton said:
I welcome the approval of this very important Strategy that brings together key elements for our local young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
The consultation involved in the bringing this strategy together has been varied and wide, resulting in a plan that will deliver a consistent and equitable service for our young people and young adults.”
As this is a partnership strategy, it will now go before the Bexley Wellbeing Partnership board for their approval before it can be formally adopted.