Children and Families Bill
where are we now?
Julie Jennings
Manager, Children, Young People and
Families Team
RNIB
Definitions and scope
We welcomed
• the extension of LA responsibilities to a wider
group of CYP with SEND
• application of the new legal framework directly to
academies and free schools
• closely involving CYP and parent carers in
decisions that affect them
Definitions and scope
but…..
• the Bill should explicitly include disabled CYP
including those with long term health conditions
who may have health and social care needs but
not SEN
• early years provision should cover the PVI sector
and home-based support
So what now
• The government, following lobbying by SEC and
EDCM laid down an amendment to include
disabled CYP without SEN
• Home based support gets a stronger reference in
COP, especially SI, but still concerns about the
PVI sector and naming them in a plan
Local integration and information
We welcomed
• the emphasis on joint working and co-operation
across services
• stronger duties on health, social care and
education to review and commission services
jointly
Local integration and information
but……
• there need to be clear links between children's
trust arrangements and Health and Wellbeing
Board duties
• accountability needs to be clear - not left to
parents
So what now
• Joint planning and commissioning has been
strengthened with a joint ministerial letter
(DfE/DH) and COP recommendation on regional
planning especially for low incidence groups
• Accountability is still an issue for parents and YP Government announced 2 year funding for
Independent Supporters to support CYPF during
implementation
Local offer
We welcomed
• the principle of a local offer
• the local offer includes a wider range of services
such as employment
Local offer
but….
• there needs to be an underpinning duty to provide
what is set out in the offer
• some form of national framework should inform
the development of each local offer
So what now
• The Government agreed to a change that
strengthens the requirement to publish actions on
parents' comments on what is set out in the local
offer
• There is a national framework for what a local
offer should contain, but not the format
EHC assessment and plan
We welcomed
• the concept of a single assessment process and
multiagency plan from birth to 25 years
• extension of statutory entitlements into FE,
including training, apprenticeships and, in certain
circumstances, YP who are NEET
• recent statement on new health duties
EHC assessment and plan
but…..
• CYP with health and care needs should be able to
access an assessment and plan, where
necessary
• extension of statutory entitlements to include HE
• there should be duties on social care services to
deliver what is set out in EHC plans with a single
point of appeal for parents and young people
So what now
• CYP with long term conditions and no SEN are
unlikely to get an EHC plan - their requirements
will be set out in a care plan
• There are stronger statements about HE in COP
• The duty on health to deliver what is in the plan is
good, and there is a stronger duty on social care
through the CSDP Act
• There will be a pilot to test a single point of
complaints and appeals processes
Outstanding issues
• General principle of presumption for inclusion not
just rights of individual child
• Special academies to admit children without EHC
Plans
• VI Registers
• Mandatory qualification
Mandatory qualification
• 2009 letter on MQ now included in a note in the
COP
• Other statements strengthen access to specialist
support, including QTVI
• Review of MQ by DfE, NCTL and NatSIP
- Phase 1 updating spec for existing providers,
including reviewing the outcomes
- Phase 2 other providers
Context of the reforms
• Capacity of LAs to deliver with deepening cuts to
frontline services
• Funding changes from 1 April 2013 in early years,
schools and FE
• NC review and its assessment and changes to
primary and secondary accountability
• Ofsted consultation on inspection of specialist
services
Ofsted self evaluation
It is likely to include
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•
•
•
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Joint commissioning
Local offer
Social care needs
Personal budgets
Transition to EHC plans
The area’s focus on early intervention
Ofsted self evaluation
Timetable
End of January
• Finalize SET and contact local areas and
providers to be involved
February/March
• Request to local areas to complete SET
• Visits to colleges and schools
Ofsted self evaluation
Timetable
April
• Initial analysis, including identification of areas for
good practice visits
May
• Good practice visits to LAs
July
• Good practice dissemination event for LAs
What could it mean for VI services?
• Using a single assessment framework and
education, health and care plan
• Involvement in personal budgets and direct
payments
• Framing a local offer for VI support
• Understanding funding models
• Different relationship for LAs
• More open market for specialist advice
• Focus on outcomes
And what's next?
• Royal Assent by 21 March
• Consideration of secondary legislation
(regulations) and SEND COP
• Phased implementation?
Early years
Preparing for adulthood
• High aspirations need to be set at an early
age…even when a child is very young…families
need to know that they can go on to find work, live
independently, with whatever support they need,
and participate in their community.
From September 2014……
' the biggest reforms for 30 years' for
CYP with SEND
www.councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/sendreforminfosheet
Thank you!
Julie.jennings@rnib.org.uk