SEND and AP inspection and improvement journey

LANO is appointed. it is recommended that the LANO liaise with local PMO arrangements as soon as possible. Some areas have allocated a deputy LANO from the ICB to support shared accountability.

Data requested includes Annexes as outlined in the inspection framework

Inspectors onsite.

Face-to face meetings with children, families, Local Area partners.

Inspectors share draft report with ICB lead and DCS. The report is then quality assured for factual accuracy by the Local Area Partnership. Within 10 days identify any changes required detailed on the relevant Ofsted/CQC form

Recommended that at this point:

• advice on independent chair and SEND Board governance sought from the LGA, and their network of Independent Chairs. 
• Local Area begin co-producing Priority Action Plan at draft stage to maximise time available 
• PMO resource to be identified 
• Work on Quality and Co-production should be well underway here 
• Identification of transformation team for leading/coordinating improvement work.

Ofsted/CQC send final report 30 days after the end of the inspection. Report published on DfE website five days after it has been sent to the Local Area Partnership. Report published by Local Area Partnership.

Improvement Notice to follow.

From the date the report is published, the Local Area has 35 days to submit its Priority Action Plan (PAP) to DfE and regional NHSE. They are also asked to update their SEND Strategic Plan following the inspection, and it is recommended that they submit  both their plans to DfE and NHSE at the same time.

DfE and NHSE will determine whether the plans meet the standards of actionable plans focused on the inspection findings.

The PAP and the Strategic Plan: The PAP should be included as a separate section within the SEND Strategic Plan. The PAP sets out the urgent actions the Local Area will take to address the identified Areas for Priority Action (APAs). Whereas the SEND Strategic Plan is the overarching planning document produced by each Local Area Partnership to detail what their SEND strategy is and how they will deliver it through available services, forward plan and the specific delivery actions being taken to deliver quality SEND services. 

The Local Area Partnership should aim to publish the PAP, as a section within their updated SEND Strategic Plan, within 50 working days from the date that the partnership receives their final report.

As soon as the final inspection report is published, DfE and NHSE regional officials will hold a Senior Officials Meeting with the Local Area Partnership (LAP) to discuss the report findings and communicate DfE’s decision on whether they are minded to issue an Improvement Notice (IN)/ Statutory Direction (SD) to the LA. Once formally decided by the Minister/SoS, they will write to the LAP leaders confirming the issuing of the intervention, and the document will then be published on GOV.UK

Ofsted/CQC

DfE

DfE and NHSE Advisors

SROs in Council and ICB

Regional DfE/ DfE Minister/ Secretary of State (SoS)
 

Governance should be formally in place (Improvement Board and Operational Delivery Group) and actively overseeing improvement work. The Improvement Board must be headed by an Independent Chair, who is selected by the Local Area Partnership  but not a member of or connected directly to it.

Workstreams to be identified and shared responsibilities across partnership.

Regular engagement with regional DfE and NHSE teams, and SEND and Financial Advisers, covering work to improve current provision for children and young people with SEND and work to deliver SEND reforms.

Ensure comms and engagement with frontline staff and parents and carers is embedded in delivery

First Stocktake (DfE and NHSE), which are held every six months.

The purpose of these meetings is to get senior representatives from the LAP, DfE and NHSE together to review progress against the plans at a strategic level, identify weaknesses in the approach and decide next steps. It will “take stock” against each APA and Areas for Improvement that should have been discussed in prior Improvement Boards and used to determine which APAs require detailed exploration through a ‘Deep Dive’.

PAP to be reviewed and updated following findings and recommendation of Stocktake.

Ensure governance is reviewed to test for effectiveness.

Regional DfE and NHSE teams

SROs in Council and ICB

Second Stocktake (DfE and NHSE) . As above, these meetings will cover work to improve current provision for children and young people with SEND and work to deliver SEND reforms.

PAP to be reviewed and updated following findings and recommendation of Stocktake.

Regional DfE and NHSE teams

SROs in Council and ICB

Ofsted/CQC Monitoring Inspection, the following outcomes are possible:

The LAP has ‘taken effective action’ against all APAs, no further concerns in report, progress against all aspects of IN/ SD validated by data showing impact of improvements and validated by SEND Improvement Board; then Improvement Notice is lifted.

The LAP has ‘taken effective action’ against some but not all APAs or the LAP has ‘not taken effective action’ against any APA; then Improvement Notice remains in place, and a step-up in intervention may be required.

Regional support and stocktakes continue – as above.