The SEND reforms and Independent Support
13th March 2014
SEND reforms
The importance of taking into account the
views, wishes and feelings of young people,
parents and carers
• A focus on outcomes and a personalised
approach to support
• Require the transition of statements/LDAs to
EHC plans
• Local offer – local support
• Information, advice and support for young
people and families
• Co-ordination – joint commissioning
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What is Independent Support?
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A 2-year programme to provide additional
support to young people and parents during
the implementation of the SEND reforms
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Independent Support is Government funded
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CDC will manage the process and oversee an
independent evaluation
Who is it designed to support?
It will provide independent supporters in each
local area as an additional resource for a time
limited period to work directly with young people
and the parents of children being assessed for an
EHC plan
This will include:
• New entrants to the system
• Children with a statement converting to an
EHC plan
• Young people with an LDA converting to a plan
Who might provide IS?
Private, voluntary or community organisations
Independent Supporters will:
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Be locally recruited
Have skills and expertise in working with
parents and young people
Have experience and understanding of SEN
and disability
Be based in private, voluntary and community
sector organisations
Complete accredited training
What funding is available?
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Government funding of £30m over two years
Funding to set up, train, deliver and monitor an
evaluate IDS
The majority of funds will go to voluntary
community or private organisations to deliver IS
Parent partnership services will also receive
funding to develop capacity and support the IS
programme
What happens locally?
Locally, the IS service will:
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Work in partnership with organisations
including the local authority, Parent
Partnership Service and local Parent Carer
Forum
Assess local need in consultation with local
partners
Complement local provision and add value
Retain appropriate independence
How does it fit with Key working?
IS will complement existing approaches to key
working
IS will bring:
• Additional capacity
• Specific time limited resources to support
transition to new assessment and plan
• Training on the new legal duties
IS will work alongside and be supported by Early
Support
How will it work with PPS?
The Government recognises the key role of
Parent Partnership Services in providing
impartial Information Advice and Support and
the need for LAs to build on them to meet new
IAS duties.
IS is an additional service that will work with,
and complement, the PPS role.
What is the timescale?
Evidence and Build Phase
• Testing and gathering evidence on effective models
between March and June 2014
• Tender in June for a July 2014 start date
Phase 1
• Main contracts to be awarded in July/August 2014 to
organisations that will host IS up until 31 March 2015
• Review of working models in Phase 1 completed March
2015
Phase 2
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Based on outcomes of a review in Phase 1 – new contracts
will be awarded or extended to host IS for a further year
until 31 March 2016.
What will governance look like?
The Council for Disabled Children will:
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Publish selection criteria
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Invite independent organisations to be part of the
selection panel for awarding contracts
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Set up a working group to contribute to and inform
planning
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Communicate and engage with:
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families and young people

local authorities
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other relevant organisations
More information
For more detailed queries please send an email Martin Bull to:
Independentsupport@ncb.org.uk