SEND Strategy Governance Board

Four adults and one child sat down having a conversation.

Overview

The SEND Strategy Governance Board (SGB) has members who represent the large number of different groups and services that help and support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

It's the main job of the board to make sure that the East Sussex SEND Strategy is working.

The board:

meet at least 4 times per year
reviews and helps deliver the SEND Strategy
started in September 2022

We have created a video that introduces the SGB:

Previous Board Meetings

Notes from the most recent meeting (3 July 2025)

Representatives from the Department for Education and NHS England attended. They will help us to monitor how we are improving support for Children and young people with SEND, and those in need of Alternative Provision.

This follows our Area SEND Inspection and the inspection improvement plan submitted in April 2025.

We looked closely at two areas for improvement of service and support:

New local authority commissioned Alternative Provision in East Sussex. This will be operated by London South East Academies Trust (LSEAT)
Transition from Early Years to Primary Education. We looked at challenges and difficulties faced by parents, carers and children with SEND

We heard from experts in the field. This included:

the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of LSEAT,
an East Sussex primary head teacher,
and a deputy service manager in the SEND Early Years Service.

We had the chance to discuss their recommendations and plans for better support.

We were able to give views on which networks and decision-making bodies will help this work to improve. We discussed how best to communicate with parents, carers and professionals. We want to make sure the right information gets to the right people in the right way.

Board members discussed important national and local developments. Our membership includes representatives from East Sussex Parent Carer Forum. We have an ‘ambassador’ for children and young people. We have members from schools, colleges and nurseries. There are also representatives from The Sussex Integrated Health and Care Board and East Sussex County Council.

It is important for us to understand how national government decisions affect our work. We heard about:

Changes to bring in a Sussex Mayor, from 2026. Changes in local authority control across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove
Changes to NHS England and to the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)
A government promise to keep in place a financial guarantee, called an ‘override’ for SEND. This lets local authorities continue to spend money on complex and difficult special educational needs.

Our next meeting is on 9 October 2025. After our Board meeting, we will have a formal 'six month review’. This is where we will review all the actions of the ASEND inspection improvement plan with representatives from the DfE and NHS England.

SEND Strategy Governance Board meeting notes: