30 May 2023

Dear families

I am writing to share with you an update on the current pressures being experienced by the SEND team at BCP. Cathi Hadley, corporate Director of Children’s Services, recently posted this update on BCP’s Local OfferLocal OfferA local authority website resource that holds information on services and provision for children and young people with SEN and disabilities across education, health and social care and leisure.:

An update on national and local plans for improving special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision (bcpcouncil.gov.uk)

The pressure within the Educational Psychology Service remains, which is having an impact on statutory timeliness. The SEND team have also been affected by agency staff leaving at short notice and the resulting problems this causes for our children, young people, and their families. Schools are also affected when the relationships they have built are terminated at such short notice. The ‘lag’ between a case officer leaving and a replacement taking over is also recognised as causing multiple problems and managers are working to address this.

The frustration and stress this is causing is recognised by the management team and plans are being made for the recruitment of additional case officers which will, over time, reduce the reliance on agency staff. Interviews are currently taking place for additional case officers who are being funded following a successful bid to the DfE as part of their Delivering Better Value project. This project will focus on clearing the backlog of Annual Reviews and supporting the capital build programme of additional resource base and special placements. Senior leaders are working with the DfE on an accelerated timeliness project plan to clear the back log of statutory assessments which have exceeded the statutory time frame.

The team remain committed to providing a service which fulfils statutory obligations whilst improving outcomes for our children, young people, and their families.

Kind regards

Helen Becker

SEND Service Manager