Havering Scrutiny Reviews Council’s SEND Plans.

The cross-party ‘People’ Scrutiny sub-committee took on the job of inspecting Havering’s SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy on Tuesday 29^th April, after it was agreed by the Cabinet in September 2024.

This Strategy is an important part of the Council’s monitoring of it’s effectiveness in fulfilling it’s statutory responsibilities to parents and children.

Members of the Committee received a report from officers on the production of the Strategy, the changing picture of demand across the borough, and how the Council is working to address that, including the development of a new 300-place Special School in Gidea Park.

Councillor Frankie Walker, Vice-Chair of the committee, raised the point with officers that Early Years outcomes are lower than those for older children, officers have identified that there are some shortcomings in literacy levels at a younger age and, had engaged 30 primary schools in a GLA funded program called ‘Talk Matters’ to tackle this issue.

The Committee discussed the role of parent-carers in co-producing the document and in remaining involved in dialogue with the Council. 

“Too often we as councillors are approached by parents who feel unable to be heard by the Council as an organisation when it comes to their children,” said Councillor Walker “and just putting the words on paper will not automatically begin a culture of listening to parents. We need to make sure that this Strategy is aimed as much at children as it is at our budget.”

To view the Strategy residents can go to https://tinyurl.com/328c3y9s

Havering’s Parent-Carer Forum, Havering SEND Family Voice, can be contacted on:info@haveringsendfamilyvoice.org or 07858406933, or on facebook.com/HaveringSENDFV/

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