Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Strategic Objectives

Reset the tone of the SEND agenda: Whilst we recognise that SEND sits within a very challenging financial context, our core aim is to work together to improve outcomes, whilst using resources responsibly and advocating for appropriate funding to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable children, young people and families within our communities and region. 

Hear and act on the voices and experiences of children and young people with SEND and their families: We will place the experiences of our children, young people and families at the heart of our work so it shapes and challenges our priorities, what good looks like and what we can do better. 

Best practice and collaboration to improve outcomes and efficiency: Seeking out best practice to improve outcomes for children and young people, strengthen the offer and equity of access, raise aspirations and enhance efficiency. Working together to support families to thrive in their communities and achieve best independence, and recognising that children, young people and families live within communities that cut across local authority boundaries and opportunities for better collaboration across commissioning, delivery, inclusiveness and quality. 

Responding regionally to the changing landscape: Making sure we are coordinated and attune to changing needs of the SEND landscape – including post Covid assurance, regulatory and statutory changes and transformation of health commissioning and delivery arrangements with Sustainable Transformation Plan and Integrated Care developments.

Key Programmes

Within the ALDCS SENDAP Plan, there as several key programmes designed to support colleagues working across SEND Services in London Boroughs

The London SEND Finance Network is facilitated by ALDCS and works to share innovation and key updates on SEND funding across London. The group meets bi-annually to hear from DfE and London Boroughs who share innovative practice and case studies.

The London SEND Strategic Managers Parent Carers Network is a forum that brings together senior managers in London’s SEND services and parent carers as coordinated through the NNPCF to discuss key themes across London’s SEND services. Recent meetings have seen the group focus on measuring outcomes, early years support, alternative provision and supported internships. Find out more about the SEND Strategic Managers Parent Carers Network.

The London SEND Summit is an event held annually bringing together SEND leaders from Local Authorities, Health, Education and National government as well as Parent Carers and Children and young People together in person to discuss innovation and progress in SEND policy.

The London SEND Leadership Programme* has been commissioned by ALDCS to deliver training to upskill the future leaders of London’s SEND services. The training, delivered by Newton Europe in coordination with nasen, is available to Local Authority, Health Partners and Parent Carers and offers 90 funded places across three cohorts. It formed a key part of the SEND and Workforce programmes for 2024/25.

*This programme is currently undergoing longitudinal evaluation and is expected to re-launch soon.