Introduction to SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme

28/03/2024

Shropshire is a member of one of the Change Programme Partnerships delivering the SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme, working alongside Telford & Wrekin, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Change Programme Partnerships are made up of local authorities, health professionals, schools and families and until at least March 2025, will be testing a package of reforms that focus on how SEND and Alternative Provision services work in local areas.

The Change programme is the Governments response to the 2019 review of the SEND and AP system and the SEND and AP Green Paper published in 2022, which highlighted multiple issues with the SEND system, such as:

• Families not getting information quick enough
• Families struggling to get support to meet their child’s needs

In March 2023 the Government published the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan setting set out the government’s proposals to improve outcomes for children and young people and delivering better experiences for their families.

The Change Programme aims to:

• Develop an improved understanding of the needs of Local SEND populations, alongside implementing effective cross system planning that requires all partners to work together. 
• Extending access to provision which should be ordinarily available, so that needs are identified and support is provided as early as possible
• EHCP reform - increasing the consistency between local authorities’ processes to ensure that those who need more specialist support can get it faster and in a more joined-up way.

IPSEA have produced a summary of the key points of the Change Programme which can be read here 

Shropshire Council have published initial information about the Change programme which can be read here  

The Department For Education have produced information for SEND families about the Change Programme which can be read here 

One of the first pieces of work to be carried out is to test the proposed new national template for EHCPs.  Shropshire has been asked to trial the new template on 80 cases and identified families will be given the option to participate in this aspect of the Change Programme. It is not compulsory to participate in the trial and families can opt out.  It is important to remember that even if the new template is used the law is not being changed and existing legal protections for SEND families remain in place.

If you have any questions about the SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme please email PACC on enquiries@paccshropshire.org.uk and we will do our best to provide the information requested.