SEND Strategic Partnership Board minutes - 19 June 2025

Contents

Attendance

Brian Gale, SEND Adviser, DfE
Councillor Denise Bickley, Cabinet member for SEND, Devon County Council
Derek Blackford, Head Accountant, Devon County Council
Donna Manson, Chief Executive, Devon County Council
Emma O’Connell, Children and Family Health Devon Acting Director
Hannah Wicks, Senior Media and PR Officer, Devon County Council
Jack Newton, Deputy Director – Inclusion and Learning, Devon County Council
Kellie Knott, SEND Strategic Director, Devon County Council
Keri Denton, Director of Performance and Partnerships, Devon County Council
Lauren Cole, Personal Assistant/Minutes, Devon County Council
Liz Wood, Assistant Director for Disability Services, Adult Disability Leadership, Devon County Council
Mark Tucker, Senior Learning Disability and Autism Programme Assurance Manager and SEND Lead NHS England and NHS Improvement South West, NHS England
Melanie Coleman, Programme Manager for SEND Transformation Programme, Devon County Council
Michelle Green, Senior Commissioning Manager – CYP Mental Health and Neurodiversity, NHS
Mike Bomford, Media and PR Manager (Strategic), Devon County Council
Phill Adams, SEND Assistant Director, Devon County Council
Sally Heath, Deputy Director of Business and Transformation Service, Devon County Council
Su Smart, Director of Women and Children’s Improvement, NHS Devon
Trevor Doughty, Chair of SEND Strategic Partnership Board, Independent
Victoria Mitchell, Co-chair of Parent Carer Forum Devon (PCFD)

Apologies

Shayna Stanbury, SEND Programme Officer/minutes, Devon County Council

1. Welcome, introductions and apologies

T Doughty welcomed the group to the board and a round of introductions took place.

2. Review of previous meeting minutes and actions

The group agreed accuracy of the minutes of the previous meeting, actions were discussed, and updates provided.

Updates for Action Log

V Mitchell questioned how the EHCP Quality Assurance Framework would be shared with parent carers, action K Knott, J Bonell and V Mitchell to discuss the best way to communicate the EHCP QA Framework to parent carers – UPDATE 19/06/2025 – This has moved on. Action can be closed.
Action P Adams to provide an update on the work in social care with transport. UPDATE 19/06/2025 – This is something that is in development and there are some options here. We are keen to make this a universal offer and it was discussed and agreed for this to be added to the next agenda for a wider discussion around the concessionary fairs policy. Action – Shayna Stanbury to add to next SEND Strategic Board Agenda.
Action: L Ennis to share more information on the discission at a senior level on system reform between the Department for Education and Department for Health once confirmed with J Wooster. UPDATE 19/06/2025 – This is scheduled for the Autumn.
Action: P Adams to look into and move the work experience priority for young people forward. UPDATE 19/06/2025 – Action – Shayna Stanbury to invite Khristine to the next SEND Strategic Board meeting to discuss the work experience programme.
Action: S Chapman to work with the Participation Team and young people on ensuring young people’s views are included and how they have impacted their EHCP. UPDATE 19/06/2025 – This action will be covered in today’s item on the governance review. We have had a conversation about how best to do this. Action can be closed.
Action: P Adams and S Smart to meet to discuss the link between the neurodiversity strategy and additional responsibilities with neurodiverse conditions, employability and transitions. UPDATE 19/06/2025 This item is on the agenda for discussion. Action can be closed.
Action: S Smart to remove the comment regarding Educational Psychologists from the neurodiversity strategy. UPDATE 19/06/2024 This item is on the agenda for discussion. Action can be closed.
Action: H Wicks to provide an update on partnership communications at the next board. UPDATE 19/06/2025 Document has been added to todays agenda. Action can be closed.

3. Neurodiversity Strategy and DCC Aligned Implementation Plan

The strategy will go through a multi agency review and this will have an embedded local area implementation plan.
A piece of work has been completed to ensure the strategy is aligned to the four cornerstones and the SEND strategy.
The strategy has been created in partnership and included health partners and the parent carer forum. Action – Su Smart to add logos of partners to the neurodiversity strategy.
Emotional wellbeing strategy is being drafted and the same approach will be utilised.
Su Smart and Michelle Green are attending the four cornerstones oversight committee this afternoon to ensure work is joined up.
Su Smart is chairing a multi-agency group. This group is holding the implementation plan, measuring the impact and keeping accountability. More work is however needed on the milestones. This accountability may need to be revised if governance of these groups changes.
Liz raised that we need to be mindful of the transition to adulthood in this piece and make sure this is clear in the strategy. Action – Su Smart to ensure there is adults representation at the multi-agency group.
Action – Su Smart to ensure that transitions to adulthood is covered in the neurodiversity strategy.
It was noted that we are looking at the children on the waiting list as part of this.
It was discussed and agreed that the strategy and implementation plan communicates the offer well and encapsulates the needs led work.
It was raised that the transitions to secondary are crucial and that we need to ensure the right people are involved. Jack Newton noted that the presentation allows us to bring partners into the conversation and build on inclusive learning communities. Action – Su Smart and Jack Newton to meet and discuss communication to education providers regarding the neurodiversity strategy.
Discussion was had around pathways. The implementation of INAP will help with this and health lock-ins have also been completed to help with understanding.
Piece of work is being completed for a deep dive into data for young people aged 18-25 who are referred to mental health services and whether they have been referred into children’s services.
We are also trying to facilitate a commissioner conversation for neurodiversity. This is at the beginning stages.
Action – Sally Heath to set up a meeting with Su Smart to align the neurodiversity implementation plan to the four cornerstones and ensure that the flow of information between the multi-agency and strategy groups is working.
Action – Shayna Stanbury to ensure that public health are represented in both the SEND Strategic Partnership Board and the Transformation Programme Board.
Discussion was had around waiting lists and the need to be realistic about this. For ADHD assessments we are currently seeing people who were referred in June 2020. The EHCP assessments, we are currently seeing people who were referred in March 2021.

4. Governance Review

It was discussed and agreed that we need a strategic review of governance arrangements. Phill Adams shared a proposal built on best practice and discussions with the chair. Within this are six areas of recommendation (noted in the paper).
It was noted that the purpose of the boards is not always clear. We do therefore need to refresh the terms of reference, be clear on the role of members and chair, and be clear on the differences between the strategic and partnership meetings so we don’t duplicate.
The strategic board is driving place for achievement but we need to ensure that we are not getting ‘bogged down’ with the operational work. The strategic board should be a place to recommend solutions.
Engagement with young people and families is a gap. It was recommended that there should be standing items on the agenda for these topics and that these issues should be built into board templates. It was also recommended that we may want six monthly slots with young people and the youth council.
Coproduction should be built into everything we do.
We need to make sure these meetings are effective. It was recommended that we have standard board templates, standard items standard ways to present items, timely reports and adequate time for agenda items. It was also suggested that boards move to a six weekly cycle to give people time to deliver and complete their actions.
Improved digital and remote participation is a priority. We may need to look at booking rooms with better technical facilities if completing hybrid meetings.
It was noted that not all members are local to Devon so hybrid meetings are important – this aids with attendance.
Name plates for meetings would be useful.
Membership of boards should be reviewed. It was suggested that we should include representatives from DCS, PHN and the voluntary sector.
Board members need to know why they are here and who everyone is.
We need to be clearer on the ‘you said, we did’ section of the governance review. This needs accountability and we need to ensure we close the loop on these areas. If we can’t do something, we need to say why.
There is a desire to move towards a more solution focussed meeting.
We need to ensure there is space outside the meetings for operational work.
It was suggested that it might be useful to have a break scheduled so members can socialise. It was however recognised that this would be difficult with a two hour meeting.
Governance Review
It was discussed that we need to be clear on where to signpost people to add items to agendas. This should be welcoming.
If completing fully virtual meetings, it was suggested that we could utilise breakout rooms on topics to help with relationship building.
Action – Phill Adams to make amendments to the governance proposals to incorporate the above points and ensure that the four cornerstones is at the forefront.

5. SEND Transformation Programme Reset

The SEND Transformation Programme has been re-set to bring together multiple strands/plans and ensure there is no duplication. This re-set programme drives forward the 4 key strands of work and ensure that the transformation board has accountability to hold SROs to account to deliver this.
This is about investing in Devon’s schools by getting the basics right in a new locality model. This includes effectively using resources, managing contracts and commissioning better to improve outcomes for young people, parents and carers. This is not about new money being put into schools.
This piece of work is about creating teams and working in inclusive learning communities to wraparound our schools.
Within this re-set we have identified what we are going to deliver in the next 12 months.
We need to ensure that the right information is taken to the right boards.
All members need to be able to explain the SEND Strategy and how we are working towards it.
Communication needs to be a focus. Action – Sally Heath to arrange a multi-agency communications working group.
Inclusive communities and the locality way of working is about bringing collective work together. A piece should be added here around transitions to adulthood, wraparound on the neurodiversity work and APP.
We need to be mindful not to try to do too much. This should be narrowed down and prioritised to ensure that this is achievable.
Action – Sally Heath to arrange a meeting with Mark Tucker and Brian Gale about the KPIs for the transformation programme re-set.
DCC are working on a new strategic plan which will hopefully be supported for next 4 years. The SEND transformation programme will be embedded into this.
It was noted that we need to be clear on how we will implement any task and finish/multi agency groups and that our aspirations on the programme could be clearer.
Action – Michelle Green to link in with Sally Heath before finalising the SLCN strategy to ensure that this is aligned with the SEND transformation programme.

6. Accelerated Progress Plan reset

Kellie Knott has spoken with DFE colleagues about the accelerated progress plan and DFE colleagues have helped DCC to refresh the actions. These are now reflective of the comments from Ofsted and is clearer in regards to criteria and delivery.
Kellie is seeking approval from the SEND Strategic Board for submission of the accelerated progress plan to the DFE.
Kellie and Jack recently spend a day with the DFE and within this there was a discussion around partnership space and what this may look like.
It was noted that we need to ensure the progress plan includes health aspects such as neurodiversity and waiting times.
Discussion was had around how we are holding each other to account internally, but that we aren’t currently holding the DFE to account. DCC have data to demonstrate that Ofsted ratings and inclusion data are not matching. We also have some inclusive schools that are not being recognised.
We are currently missing an accountability framework.
It was suggested that we could potentially draw in other South West councils and unite with others as a second step.
Decision – It was agreed by the SEND Strategic Board for a letter to be sent from Donna Manson and the Cabinet lead to ask the DFE directly for a joint accountability framework. This letter should be copied to our MPs.
Decision – It was agreed that the Accelerated Progress Plan could be sent to the DFE.
Updated action (agreed 15.7.25)– Su Smart and Mark Tucker will now take responsibility for amending the accelerated progress plan to ensure that health aspects such as waiting times and neurodiversity are included.
Action – Keri Denton to draft a letter to the DFE asking for a joint accountability framework. This is to be sent alongside the accelerated progress plan submission.

7. Partnership Board Programme Report inc. risk register

Milestones shared and delivery tracker.
Provision management has been pushed back to end of June so management can better understand the system.
There is a high risk build for Castlebridge School. This will open in September and the school build is on track.
Phase 1 of the Inclusion and Learning re-shape has been completed and new leadership is in place. Phase 2 is underway and the operating model is being scoped out.
Action – Melanie Coleman to ensure that the partnership board programme report is broken down into individual deliverable strands.
It was noted that the teams are doing some fantastic work which isn’t shining through in the current reporting.
It was noted that the EHCP dashboard is showing some issues related to the changes happening in service. Issues are showing in regards to sickness, changes in leadership and staff morale.
Action – Melanie Coleman to add some national benchmarking to the partnership board programme report. It was noted that we have maintained our average cost of EHCPs which is very much out of line with others.
Donna Manson noted that the milestone on Petroc/Exeter is a fantastic achievement.
Action – Sally Heath to work with Keri Denton to ensure that the partnership board reporting and KPIs are linked to localities moving forward.
QA has stopped and will re-start again from July. Reassurance was given to the board on this.

8. AOB

Donna Manson noted that she had been with a cabinet member to visit the Deaf Academy. Donna will be formally writing to the school about how inspiring the visit way and about their high quality inclusive practice. Donna will note in the letter that she has shared this with the SEND Strategic Partnership Board.

Date for next meeting: Thursday 17 July 2025