New partnership strategy for young people with SEND proposed

Children and young people in Waltham Forest with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as their families, will see a strengthened local service provision. 

The new proposed strategy has been created in partnership with 

• parents
• carers
• local healthcare partners
• early years settings
• and schools across the borough. 

To improve the lives of SEND children, young people and their families

Published this week, the proposed Waltham Forest SEND Strategy (2025 to 2028) sets out the Local Area SEND Partnership’s vision to improve the lives of SEND children and young people and their families. The strategy will ensure the right support is given at the right time, helping our young people with SEND reach their full potential. 

Built around 5 key priority areas, it includes 

• measures for increased and timely access to services
• high-quality education
• health and care plans
• and support to ensure adulthood transition plans are successful

We want your views

The draft strategy will be available for public consultation until May 2025 to ensure feedback can be used to review the strategy and make any necessary changes to help the Local Area SEND Partnership achieve consistently good outcomes for Waltham Forest’s children and young people. 

Read the full Waltham Forest SEND Strategy (2025 to 2028).

Take part in the consultation on the Waltham Forest SEND Strategy 2025-2028 on our consultation website. 

We would like to hear your views on the strategy, with your feedback used to make necessary amendments. 

You will need to be registered on the site to submit your response.  

Our Ofsted inspection 

The strategy coincides with the publication of a recent Ofsted inspection, which acknowledged significant progress and a positive trajectory in Waltham Forest’s work with SEND young people. It also highlighted inconsistent outcomes and experiences for children and young people with SEND. 

The strategy will be used to drive the changes necessary to build on the partnership’s strengths and meet the recommendations from the inspection. 

 SEND Improvement plan

Drawing on the strategy and consultation results, the Local Area SEND Partnership will also create a SEND Improvement plan to build on key areas of strength identified by Ofsted’s report, as well as areas for improvement including the quality of Education, Health and Care Plans, transition to adulthood pathways, and improving communication across the SEND system. 

Cllr Kizzy Gardiner, Lead Member for Children and Young People, said: 

This new strategy is an important step in setting out our vision for SEND in Waltham Forest. The latest inspection identified a lot of partnership strengths and progress, but also inconsistency in outcomes for young people with SEND. We are always striving to do better, and a clear plan is in place to help the local partnership be as strong as it can be, to make sure all our young people are set up well for the future. 

We are fully committed to making Waltham Forest an inclusive, accessible borough for everyone. I would encourage those with SEND and their families to take part in the consultation around the strategy to make sure your experience and insights are taken on board.

Following the Ofsted Inspection, Nicky Crouch, Strategic Director of Children’s Services, said: 

I was really pleased that the strengths in the partnership and the commitment to improving services for children with SEND was recognised. Work over the last year to stabilise the service and secure additional resources is starting to have an impact and while we have a lot more to do, it was reassuring that the impact of this was starting to show.

Zina Etheridge, Chief Executive of NHS North East London, said:

It’s so important that children and young people with SEND in Waltham Forest receive the support that they need to thrive in their community.

We are pleased to be working with the council to help implement the priorities outlined in the improvement programme and I am delighted that the work of our partnership is being recognised as having a positive impact on families across the borough. 

The Ofsted report shows the strength and effectiveness of our partnership in supporting children with SEND in Waltham Forest and recognises the proactive steps we are taking together to continue improving services.