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

In our last meeting we:

welcomed the new East Sussex Director of Children’s Services, Carolyn Fair, to her role as a Board member. We heard Carolyn’s commitment to continue support for the Board and for inclusion across East Sussex.
discussed the ground breaking ‘Local Area Inclusion Plan’ (LAIP) pilot work. This work is part of the ‘Change Programme’. The East Sussex SEND Strategy (2022-25) will use the pilot work to develop the next SEND Strategy. This is in light of a new national government and fresh policy.
considered lessons learned and successes recorded, with regard to Theme 3: ‘I feel safe and secure’. This included a focus on holiday activities, short breaks, overnight arrangements, and transition pathways for young people with SEND.
heard and discussed the inputs of two expert witnesses; Emma Buggy (nursery owner and Board member) on Early Years SEND issues. Dr Jacqui Shepherd (senior researcher on SEND issues and co-chair of a Sussex special school) discussed shaping a focused Board work programme for 2024/25. This was in light of her dialogues with key parents, carer and young people representatives.

To learn more about the strategy, please visit our page on the East Sussex SEND Strategy.