DECISION

1.    Note the partnership Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion Strategy.

2.    Note the Equalities Impact Assessment as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.

3.    Establish a task and finish group whose remit will be to ensure that Members, officers and partners have sufficient resources and support to deliver the improvements from the strategy.

Action by

CORPORATE DIRECTOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES (S. REDDY)

Director of Education (L. Fraser)

Councillor Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning (Statutory Deputy Mayor) introduced the report that proposed a partnership strategy that set out the shared outcomes that leaders will work collectively to achieve for all children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Tower Hamlets. Councillor Talukdar explained how the Strategy was a partnership strategy developed on behalf of the Tower Hamlets SEND Improvement Board: a partnership between the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, schools representatives, Barts Health NHS Trust, North East London Integrated Care Board, East London NHS Foundation Trust, the SEND Parents forum, and the Our Time Young People’s Forum.

Officers, including Steve Reddy, (Corporate Director, Children's Services) provided further detail and context for the Strategy. In response to questions from Cabinet Steve explained how the partnership would measure success and track delivery.

Cabinet welcomed the report which they felt would help all young people to reach their potential.

Stephen Halsey, Chief Executive, explained he was keen to ensure that all involved in delivery of the Strategy whether Members, partners and officers had sufficient resources and support to bring forward improvement. He asked the Mayor to consider establishing a partnership task and finish group to support drawing out key actions for improvement. The Mayor welcomed and approved this additional recommendation.

RESOLVED that the Mayor in Cabinet:

1.    Notes the partnership Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion Strategy.

2.    Notes the Equalities Impact Assessment as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.

3.    Establishes a task and finish group whose remit will be to ensure that Members, officers and partners have sufficient resources and support to deliver the improvements from the strategy.