SEND Strategic Partnership Board minutes - 4 November 2025

Contents

Draft

These are the draft minutes of the SEND Strategic Partnership Board. This note will be removed once the minutes are signed off at the next meeting.

Attendance

Alison Brooks, Strategic Adviser (minutes), Devon County Council
Amy Bickford, SEND Participation Lead, Devon County Council
Amy Carey-Jones, Information Advice and Support Lead, DiAS
Brian Gale, SEND Adviser, DfE
Councillor Denise Bickley, Cabinet member for SEND, Devon County Council
Debbie Westlake, Programme and Project Manager, Devon County Council
Emma O’Connell, Acting Director, Children and Family Health Devon
Jack Newton, Interim Deputy Director – Head if Inclusion and Learning, Devon County Council
Julia Bonell, Co-chair of Parent Carer Forum Devon (PCFD)
Julian Wooster, Director of Children and Young People’s Futures, Devon County Council
Kellie Knott, SEND Strategic Director, Devon County Council
Laura Canning, SEND NHSE
Maddie Hayden, Communications and Engagement Lead, 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
Sadie Hall, Assistant Director – Women, Children and Young People, NHS Devon
Sally Heath, Deputy Director, Transformation and Business Service, Devon County Council
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health, Devon County Council
Tandra Forster, Director of Integrated Adult Social Care, Devon County Council

Apologies

Trevor Doughty, Chair of SEND Strategic Partnership Board, Independent
Penny Smith, Chief Nurse, NHS England
Paul Walker, CEO, First Federation Multi-Academy Trust and Chair of Devon Schools Leadership Services (DSLS)
Su Smart, Director of Women and Children’s Improvement, NHS Devon

1. Welcome, introductions and apologies

Board chair update

Trevor Doughty will step down in January 2026 and will chair the December meeting. The search for a new permanent Chair of the Board is underway.

Two strong candidates identified. Interview dates will be confirmed by the end of the month. Aim is to have the new Chair in place by January board.

2. Review of previous meeting minutes and actions

Amendments to be made:

Two parent carers attended, though they don’t need to be named it’s important that their attendance is noted in the minutes.
Julia Bonell should also be added as attending.

Julia also noted the language used in the minutes for example: the narrative should reflect the voices of families rather than using technical terms such as “co-production.” So it is clear what work has been done and with whom and how. This adjustment will ensure the minutes are more inclusive and representative of family perspectives.

Maddie Hayden, Internal Communications Officer, will support improvements in how board information is shared. This will include developing clearer messaging and ensuring that communication channels are accessible and effective for all stakeholders.

Amy Bickford suggested exploring user journeys and considering a workshop around this theme.

There is interest from parents, young carers, and some young people to attend board meetings. However, practical barriers exist, such as meetings being held during school hours or in formal council settings, which can make participation difficult. The board agreed to consider options and compromises to make attendance more feasible.

January workshop proposal:

In January, the board will discuss co-production with families and young people, focusing on how meetings can be made more accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable.

The aim is to remove any sense of power imbalance and create opportunities for meaningful participation. Key questions include:

What barriers currently prevent families and young people from attending?
What practical steps can be taken to overcome these barriers?

3. Sharing the experiences of families through complaints

Two complaints were selected as examples, which highlighted issues the Early Support principle in the letter from the Secretary of State for Education will look to address. Kellie presented the complaints to illustrate the challenges faced by young people and families.

Board response:

Councillor Denise Bickford confirmed these examples reflect the types of issues she receives daily.
Emma O’Connell added that parents experience similar challenges. While there are active plans to address these issues, early help and support are critical – diagnosis or not, children need the same level of support.
Amy Hudson noted misconceptions persist, such as the belief that a diagnosis guarantees more support.
CAMHS myth: The assumption that support is only available after a full diagnosis is incorrect.
Emma O’Connell reinforced that CAMHS should be reserved for children with higher priority needs, and other NHS services can support wellbeing. CAMHS should not be the first stop for all children with needs.
Julia Bonell challenged the system gaps for neurodivergent children who fall through the cracks. CAMHS thresholds are very high, leaving families struggling, sometimes with suicidal young people.

Suggestions from the board included:

Improve communication about available support. Develop a one-page tool for families to prevent defaulting to CAMHS as the first option.
Schools being well versed in what support is available.
A webinar on mental health and creating a single, clear resource for families. Current information is fragmented and drip-fed.
Address the power of language – ensure consistent, clear terminology that helps families and schools understand and value early help.

Jack Newton flagged the lack of responsibilities by schools in the examples given. We need to unpick this and look at how we can support a shift in culture. We also need to look at the relationship between some schools and parents and the issues this can cause.

Sadie Hall highlighted the need for a stronger graduated response and mentioned services like MyWay and the newly developed In-reach Discharge Support.

FFP Board Update: Positive progress noted. Dorset’s model of offering CAMHS advice at the front door stage was discussed as a potential approach.

Section 19 clarity: There was discussion around parental understanding of Section 19 support -specifically, whether mental health conditions qualify and how thresholds are communicated. One board member noted that the distinction between physical and mental health is often blurred in practice.
Out-of-hours support: Counsellor Denise shared an example of a CAMHS emergency number that rang unanswered, raising concerns about accessibility and reliability of crisis support.
Teacher awareness: There was agreement that teachers need better tools to recognise and respond when parents raise concerns that are not yet visible in the classroom.
Graded resource for parents: A suggestion was made to develop a tiered resource for families, clearly outlining what support is available at different levels of need.

Amy Bickford reflected on the emotional impact on children who want to learn but feel their lives slipping away due to lack of access to support. She noted that the crisis often begins when a child no longer wants to attend school – this should be recognised as a critical intervention point.

ACTION: JW to speak with JN and KK about what we can do about addressing the issues raised at the board

4. Update on effectiveness of new format Transformation Board

Kellie Knott shared feedback that the meeting felt more structured and clearer, with people able to see where work is happening and how it connects to wider priorities. This is a positive step forward.

However, Kellie raised a few points for improvement:

Membership: There is still a question about whether we have the right people around the table.
Purpose and focus: We need to move away from the board being primarily about information sharing and shift towards check and challenge where appropriate.
Feedback: Better mechanisms for feedback are needed to ensure continuous improvement.

Jack Newton emphasised the importance of ensuring that everyone understands how this board fits into the wider transformation programme and the work being done across the strands. Clearer links and communication between boards and workstreams will help avoid duplication and strengthen accountability.

5. Letter from Secretary of State for Education

The recent letter from the Secretary of State confirms a delay to the publication of the White Paper. While this postponement creates some uncertainty, the letter sets out five key principles that will underpin future policy direction:

Early support – Ensuring timely intervention for children and families.
Local provision – Delivering education close to home to strengthen community-based support.
Best practice – Promoting evidence-based approaches and sharing what works.
Strong partnerships – Building collaborative relationships across education, health, and social care.
Information sharing – Improving transparency and communication with families.

The letter invites reflection on how these principles align with current practice. Key questions for Devon include:

Where are we positioned in relation to these principles?
Are we ready to embrace the initiatives that will follow the White Paper?
Does the work included in the SEND Transformation programme align with this direction, or do we need to adapt?

Board discussion highlights

Tandra Forster raised the question of inclusion and whether the new Ofsted framework already reflects this focus. Jack Newton confirmed that Ofsted’s new framework came into effect on 3 November 2025, with a far greater emphasis on inclusion and collaboration. This shift will require schools and local authorities to reshape approaches. He stressed the importance of working with schools to ensure alignment and support. Jack also referenced the recent Department for Education RISE Conference, which focused on attainment. The Secretary of State spoke about improving outcomes and highlighted the need for schools to work together to achieve this.

Councillor Denise Bickford noted that the letter reinforces Devon’s existing Inclusion and Learning Strategy. She questioned whether we are doing enough to embed this in practice and highlighted the need for clarity on when schools are signing up to these principles and what it means in tangible terms.
- Key Point: Approximately 50% of schools have signed up to the inclusion pledge. However, what does this commitment deliver in practice? What difference does it make for schools and families?

The overarching aim is cultural change—ensuring children receive education within their communities. Councillor Denise Bickford emphasised that schools need to understand the benefits of signing up, such as access to shared data and collaborative support for all children in their locality.

Kellie Knott linked the letter to the current transformation programme, asking whether the programme will deliver on these principles. She cautioned against assuming that the White Paper will require a completely new approach, stressing the importance of building on existing work rather than starting from scratch.
- Key risk: Misalignment between the White Paper and current plans could lead to duplication or unnecessary change.
- Key priority: Tackling mainstream inclusion remains critical to delivering the transformation programme

The Strategic Partnership Board requested that the Transformation Board consider:

whether the transformation programme covers the five principles outlined in the letter
whether current initiatives adequately address mainstream inclusion and early support
ensure a clear communication plan is developed for schools and partners to explain the benefits of signing up to inclusion pledges
ensure we are prepared for potential adjustments once the White Paper is published, ensuring flexibility without losing momentum

6. SLCN strategy

The supporting implementation plan is still in draft but provides enough clarity on direction, SMART actions, delivery timelines, and an implementation roadmap.

Focuses on partnership working through Hubs.
Aims to reduce waiting times and includes plans to address implementation challenges.

The core principles of the strategy set out integrated and sustainable delivery of the SLCN offer and aligns with the Neurodiversity (ND) strategy.

Emma O’Connell is preparing a presentation following the curiosity workshop and was able to confirm that in Torbay, where the strategy has already been rolled out, waiting lists are already starting to reduce.

Julian Wooster raised concerns about North Devon being in the top 10 areas of deprivation – questioning if the offer is right for that locality. It was confirmed that providers are mapping needs by locality; North Devon is challenging but the approach is proven elsewhere.

Steve Brown highlighted the importance of reducing waiting times. Workshops are being brought in (from Somerset, adapted for Devon) to support those waiting, though potential gaps in provision may need addressing.

Julia Bonell welcomed the move to link practitioners with local schools, bringing expertise closer to communities. Devon’s geography means affluent areas can mask deprivation – school links help identify real needs.

Councillor Denise Bickford asked about very early intervention and support for new parents how this is offered and how new parents become aware of these offers.

Sadie Hall noted crossover with PHNs and health visitors, that the information is provided and available.

Family Hubs and impact assessment:

Julia Bonell raised concerns about clarity and delivery of Family Hub plans – risk if not well defined.
Need for an audit and assessment process to evaluate strategy impact.

Governance and oversight:

Delivery of strategy to be overseen by the SEND Transformation programme
Sally Heath mentioned the “Best Start in Life” strategy and the need to clarify governance and responsibilities.

Training and parent support:

Emma responded in chat about training packages for schools — happy to explore mapping needs.
Focus on identifying what’s available to parents and understanding their needs.

Key decision: SLCN strategy signed off by Board subject to finalisation of implementation plan

7. Diabetes Type 1 children and how they manage at school.

Currently, funding is provided to schools to support children with Type 1 diabetes. However, developments in technology have changed the landscape of support that needs to be provided.

Su Smart and Kellie Knott have undertaken work to review the current arrangements. The commissioned service is already in place, and advancements in paediatric technology – particularly hybrid close loop systems – mean that some children now require less direct adult support. This has reduced the need for additional staffing in certain cases.

As part of this review, Devon County Council proposes to cease the current funding arrangement. This aligns with the approach already taken by Plymouth and Torbay, where responsibility has been redirected to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and other relevant services.

Key points:

This is not a reduction in support, but a realignment of responsibility to the appropriate service.
Schools retain the responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to support children with medical needs.
Parents and children will not experience any change in the level of support received.
Clear communication with schools is essential to ensure understanding of the change and its implications.

Concerns and clarifications: Emma O’Connell raised a concern about whether this change contradicts other discussions at the board level. It was flagged that it is important to clarify that DCC is not withdrawing support, but rather recognising and not funding services that already exist. Health services are already providing this support, and schools are expected to make reasonable adjustments as part of their existing responsibilities.

Sadie Hall will speak with Su Smart regarding capacity and assurance, particularly for smaller schools, to ensure they are equipped to manage the change effectively.

Next steps:

Endorsement of the proposed approach – paper requested to come back to December Board.
Agreement on how this change will be communicated to schools and stakeholders – important to frame the messaging around this in the right way.
Assurance planning to support schools, especially those with limited capacity.

Action: KK/SS to bring a paper back to the December Board

8. SEND Transformation programme

Report for information acknowledged – no discussion

9. ICB-led SEND improvement

Su Smart not able to attend – carried over to the December meeting though Sadie provided an interim update

10. Performance report – focus on KPIs 9 and 15

The main KPI report and associated data covers the period up to September. The focus of the discussion was primarily on KPI 9, although there was initial reference to KPI 15.

KPI 15: Due to the cancellation of the multi-agency organisational development session, there is currently no date set to present KPI 15 formally.

Kellie noted that work is underway with the Regional Support Fund, with a request submitted to the region to fund 50–60 audits.

Action: KK to bring an update of the Regional Support Fund audits to the next Board

KPI 9: This KPI showed a very high percentage, prompting further analysis.

Devon has experienced a significantly higher level of requests compared to neighbouring authorities and national averages. A contributing factor is the appropriateness of referrals – many are refused, which inflates the percentage figures. There are legacy issues within the team’s workflow that are being addressed. The leadership team is implementing more robust practices to improve consistency and quality.

Referral patterns: A notable trend is the source of referrals. In Devon, a large proportion come from parents, whereas in other local authorities, schools are the primary source. Parental referrals often lack sufficient supporting evidence, which presents challenges in processing and decision-making.

Breakdown of refusals

Key observations:

Data indicates that families feel caught in the middle, experiencing limited support from both the Local Authority (LA) and schools. Schools often feel they lack the power or resources to make a meaningful difference.

Agreed focus for the next board meeting will be a review of health data.

7. AOB

The Board agreed to begin developing a forward plan for themed Board meetings using key themes identified by young people and their families, as well as arising national and data-driven issues.

Meetings will be extended in duration to allow for deeper discussion. Meeting will take place every 6 weeks, for a duration of 2.5hrs. Need to review when this will start from.

National Report: “Nothing Matters”

The Board noted the significant impact highlighted in the national report, which showed measurable change within a single academic year. There is interest in exploring what can be learned from this report and how those insights might be applied locally.

This will be added as an agenda item for the next meeting.

Date for next meeting: Tuesday 16 December 2025 – 11.00 am to 1.00 pm