SEN Green Paper Next Steps

The SEN and disabilities Green Paper published in March 2011 made clear the DfE’s intention both to consult on the wide-ranging proposals in the Green Paper and to identify pathfinders to test out its main proposals. The DfE announced these 20 areas, covering 31 local authorities and their PCT partners on 21^st September.

The expectations about what the pathfinders will do has clearly been informed by the outcomes of the consultation on the Green Paper.  They will all be expected to test what are now considered to be core elements of reform, including:

·         the development of a single education, care and health plan from birth to age 25 focusing on whether outcomes for disabled children and their parents have improved;

·         personal budgets for parents of disabled children and those with SEN so they can choose which services best meet the needs of their children;

·         the development of effective partnership working in the area to help to meet the needs of disabled children and young people and those with SEN;

·         improved commissioning, particularly linked to health reforms;

·         the role of the voluntary and community sector and parents in the new system; and

·         the cost of the proposed reforms.

The pathfinder programme has been jointly commissioned by the DfE and the Department for Health.  They have confirmed that the outcomes of the pathfinders will be fully evaluated and used to inform changes that are likely to be introduced from either 2013 or 2014.

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