by Catherine Hall, Education policy lead

We welcome the news that there will be an independent review of the current provision available for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This has been commissioned in partnership with the National Association of Special Educational Needs (NASEN) and we are delighted that our Education representative, Catherine Hall, has been invited to be on the Project Board.

Nick Hynes, Head of Inclusion and Services for Children & Schools, is known to many of our members and adds

‘We are looking forward to working alongside nasen who have a wealth of experience in supporting and developing quality SEND provision. Central to a successful review is the close liaison that is planned with a range of key stakeholders, including schools, parents/carers and young people. As part of the review a series of engagement and focus group sessions will be held so that key stakeholders can share their views about perceived strengths and areas of development for SEND in the Bailiwick. The expertise these partners bring to the table will add real depth and benefit to the process.’

Read more about it below or on the States website www.gov.gg

Thursday 06 February 2020

A review of the current provision available for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has been commissioned in partnership with the National Association of Special Educational Needs (nasen).

Nasen (NASEN https://nasen.org.uk/) are a high quality provider of SEND support and development with vast experience at both a national and jurisdictional level.

The review will be used to identify good practice and also inform the evolution of provision, identifying opportunities that will support the on-going development of an educationally inclusive culture across the Bailiwick.

The review, which was agreed by the States in September 2019, will take place during the next few months before reporting back to the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture early in the new States term.

The broad purpose of commissioning the review is to enable the Bailiwick to benefit from a suitably objective evaluation of current and future SEND provision. By exploring the shape and quality of existing SEND provision and practice across the full age and ability range, the SEND Review will provide an evaluation of the Bailiwick’s effectiveness in:

• identifying children and young people with SEND;
• meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND;
• securing good outcomes for children and young people who have SEND.

The review will lead to a report that:

• provides the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture and those who lead and manage the delivery of services across the States of Guernsey with an assessment of how well the needs of children and young people with SEND are met and how well schools and services work together to deliver positive outcomes; 2
• provides information to the Committee for Education Sport and Culture about how well schools and Education services are responding to the changing needs of SEND learners and making the best use of current resources, including school estates;
• will promote and facilitate improvement within the Bailiwick across all its education provision;
• will, where relevant, make recommendations for consideration and highlight actions that the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture could consider taking to further improve practice.

Importantly, the review will take place in partnership with colleagues within education, across the States of Guernsey and associated services, agency, 3rd sector partners, parents/carers and children and young people with SEND.

Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:

‘This is an incredibly important piece of work and we’re delighted that it is being progressed before the end of this States term. While it will be for the next Committee to consider the findings, the review is likely to be key in shaping the on-going development of an educationally inclusive culture across the Bailiwick.’

Professor Adam Boddison, Chief Executive Officer at Nasen, said:

‘I am delighted that nasen has been appointed to undertake an independent review of SEND provision for the States of Guernsey. The commissioning of such a review demonstrates a commitment from the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture in relation to ensuring that learners with SEND achieve the best possible outcomes. Our review will be broad and will provide an opportunity for all key stakeholders to share their experiences, including learners with SEND and their families.’