Consultation on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy 2025-28

Background

The Waltham Forest SEND Strategy 2025-2028 is designed for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their families, and the professionals who support them. Its purpose is to ensure that these individuals receive the right support at the right time, enabling them to achieve their full potential. This strategy was co-produced with a wide range of local area SEND partners. Together, we have developed a comprehensive plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of our SEND community, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.

The strategy covers the ‘local area’ which includes the local authority, our integrated health and care partnership, public health bodies, early years settings, schools, and further education providers in Waltham Forest. It outlines how we will work together as a SEND Partnership to deliver our local area vision over the next three years.

We share the ambition articulated in the Department of Education’s SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan: children and young people in Waltham Forest with SEND, and their families, need to get the right support, in the right place, and at the right time ensuring that all children and young people with SEND feel valued, are visible and included in their local communities and have the opportunity to achieve their aspirations and outcomes. The report identifies a ‘vicious cycle of late intervention, low confidence and inefficient resource allocation’ across SEND services nationally. This means young people with SEND do not always receive the high standard of service they deserve.

Our strategy sets out the policies that will improve the experiences and outcomes of affected young people and their families. It sits alongside the council’s People at the Heart of Our Place Strategy; the SEND Preparing for Adulthood Strategy; the Babies, Children and Young People Strategy; and the All-Age Autism Strategy. These plans collectively ensure residents with unique needs are supported.

Why are we consulting?

We would like to hear your views on our strategy.

Your feedback will be used to review our proposals and make necessary amendments to ensure we have a plan in place that supports the Council to meet its statutory duties. When this consultation is completed, we will process all responses and consider necessary adjustments so the SEND Strategy can be implemented from 1 September 2025.

What are we proposing?

The full strategy document can be viewed here.

We encourage you to read the full details of the strategy by following the above link. Below, is a summary of the strategy.

The 2025-2028 SEND Strategy consists of five priorities:



Priority One

We aim to ensure that every child and young person with learning difficulties or disabilities has their needs identified and understood as early as possible. By providing timely and targeted support, we strive to offer consistent and equitable access to services across the borough, enhancing the quality of support for all children and young people.

Priority Two

Our goal is to embed a collaborative approach into everything we do, ensuring that the voices of children, young people, and their families are central to the development and improvement of SEND services.

Priority Three

We are committed to enhancing the quality of Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) to ensure they accurately reflect the needs and aspirations of children and young people. By regularly reviewing and auditing these plans, we aim to provide tailored support that adapts to changing needs and improves outcomes.

Priority Four

We will strengthen educational settings to provide high-quality, inclusive support that meets the diverse needs of children and young people with SEND. By improving the sufficiency and quality of local provision, we aim to ensure that all students have access to the support they need to succeed academically and in life.

Priority Five

Our focus is on preparing children and young people with SEND for their next life stages, including adulthood. We will provide comprehensive information, guidance, and support to help them make informed choices about their future, ensuring they have access to a range of opportunities for further education, employment, and independent living.

Background

The Waltham Forest SEND Strategy 2025-2028 is designed for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their families, and the professionals who support them. Its purpose is to ensure that these individuals receive the right support at the right time, enabling them to achieve their full potential. This strategy was co-produced with a wide range of local area SEND partners. Together, we have developed a comprehensive plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of our SEND community, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.

The strategy covers the ‘local area’ which includes the local authority, our integrated health and care partnership, public health bodies, early years settings, schools, and further education providers in Waltham Forest. It outlines how we will work together as a SEND Partnership to deliver our local area vision over the next three years.

We share the ambition articulated in the Department of Education’s SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan: children and young people in Waltham Forest with SEND, and their families, need to get the right support, in the right place, and at the right time ensuring that all children and young people with SEND feel valued, are visible and included in their local communities and have the opportunity to achieve their aspirations and outcomes. The report identifies a ‘vicious cycle of late intervention, low confidence and inefficient resource allocation’ across SEND services nationally. This means young people with SEND do not always receive the high standard of service they deserve.

Our strategy sets out the policies that will improve the experiences and outcomes of affected young people and their families. It sits alongside the council’s People at the Heart of Our Place Strategy; the SEND Preparing for Adulthood Strategy; the Babies, Children and Young People Strategy; and the All-Age Autism Strategy. These plans collectively ensure residents with unique needs are supported.

Why are we consulting?

We would like to hear your views on our strategy.

Your feedback will be used to review our proposals and make necessary amendments to ensure we have a plan in place that supports the Council to meet its statutory duties. When this consultation is completed, we will process all responses and consider necessary adjustments so the SEND Strategy can be implemented from 1 September 2025.

What are we proposing?

The full strategy document can be viewed here.

We encourage you to read the full details of the strategy by following the above link. Below, is a summary of the strategy.

The 2025-2028 SEND Strategy consists of five priorities:



Priority One

We aim to ensure that every child and young person with learning difficulties or disabilities has their needs identified and understood as early as possible. By providing timely and targeted support, we strive to offer consistent and equitable access to services across the borough, enhancing the quality of support for all children and young people.

Priority Two

Our goal is to embed a collaborative approach into everything we do, ensuring that the voices of children, young people, and their families are central to the development and improvement of SEND services.

Priority Three

We are committed to enhancing the quality of Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) to ensure they accurately reflect the needs and aspirations of children and young people. By regularly reviewing and auditing these plans, we aim to provide tailored support that adapts to changing needs and improves outcomes.

Priority Four

We will strengthen educational settings to provide high-quality, inclusive support that meets the diverse needs of children and young people with SEND. By improving the sufficiency and quality of local provision, we aim to ensure that all students have access to the support they need to succeed academically and in life.

Priority Five

Our focus is on preparing children and young people with SEND for their next life stages, including adulthood. We will provide comprehensive information, guidance, and support to help them make informed choices about their future, ensuring they have access to a range of opportunities for further education, employment, and independent living.