Progress on our Brent SEND Strategy

About the SEND Strategy

Brent’s SEND Strategy 2021-2025 aimed to improve education, health, community participation, independent living, and local engagement for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The progress was mixed, with some areas showing strong advancements and others facing challenges, informing the development of the Inclusion Strategy 2026-29.

Key highlights included:

Inclusive education expansion: Additional resourced provisions (ARPs) increased, a new special school opened, and monthly panels and training programs were introduced to support inclusive schooling environments.
Specialist SEND teaching enhancements: The SEND Support team improved early identification and support, new advisory roles were created, and parents were involved in developing post-16 education offers and social-emotional support services.
Early identification improvements: Tools and protocols for Early Years assessments and communication support were developed, a speech and language pilot was launched.
Pathways to education and employment: Resources including a pathways brochure, skills centre plans, and supported internships were established, alongside a new travel assistance policy and improved transition to adult social care.
Emotional health initiatives: Training programs, audit tools, and re-commissioned diagnostic services reduced waiting times and enhanced data sharing between agencies.
Physical health and healthcare access: A health inequalities team focused on immunisations and asthma, offering support programs in schools. A new continence service was launched.
Nutrition and healthy lifestyles: Specialist lactation clinics, weight management programs for children, and physical activity support were provided with positive community feedback.
Community healthcare services: Collaboration on health resources, targeted speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy guides, and early intervention programs supported families and school readiness
Engagement and celebration: Annual SEND events and cultural activities engaged children and young people with SEND, supplemented by youth forums and council outreach on various community topics.

The learning from the implementation of the 2021-2025 SEND Strategy informed the development of Brent’s new Inclusion Strategy 2026-2029. This new, fully co-produced strategy looks to both build on the excellent work delivered as a result of the 2021-2025 strategy, and to deliver against new priorities and actions.

Education, employment and training

Goal and outcome	Progress	Focus for September 2023 – July 2024
Supporting every Brent setting and school to be inclusive.	Graduated approach framework: rolled out across 88 schools. Expansion of additional resourced provision over 2022-2024. ARP training programme in place. Special school expansion agreed by Cabinet. Policy for supporting children with medical needs consulted on and launched. More children with an EHCP to attend Brent mainstream schools. 44 ASD champions across Brent schools. EBSA toolkit being rolled out across Brent Schools.	18 schools requiring additional support to embed GAF. SCERTS training commissioned and planned to prepare for wider rollout Speech, language and communications programme scoped and rolled out. Health panel operational and funding for medical care support in schools defined by health.
Supporting the educational outcomes for children and young people.	Training map and training programme per school cluster funded by the SEN Intervention Fund supporting the teaching and learning of children with additional needs Impact analysis undertaken. AP report developed. 2021/22 educational outcomes at GLD, KS1 and KS4 below national for children with an EHCP.	SEN report review – how is funding being used to support better outcomes. Curriculum working group to review progress of children with an EHCP.
Ensuring the early identification of a special educational need.	Delivering Better Value (DBV) programme developed and operational plan in place. Best Start in Life programme underway including integrated 2-year-old check. SEND navigators in Family Wellbeing centres.	DBV - Early Years Intervention Fund review and EY enhanced provision review. Infant to school programme underway. Scoping intervention first programme for secondary.
Expansion of the routes into education, employment and training.	An online one-stop shop for pathways and routes into education, employment and training - The Preparing for Adulthood Website. Supported Employment Forum operational. 35 young people supported to access supported internships 50% movement into permanent employment from SI. Implementing the Disability Confident standards across Brent employers and suppliers to the Children’s Trust ensuring that employers are SEND aware and SEND friendly. Agreement of the Welsh Harp and Airco Close skills resource centre where young people can be supported into meaningful employment.	Careers programme developed for SEND Inclusive apprenticeships promoted as part of National Apprenticeship Week Expansion of volunteering, the supported internship and inclusive apprenticeships into permanent roles, including anchor organisations Promote the employment passport – developed by Woodfield School PFA and 14 plus transitions protocol established Development of the Welsh Harp and Airco Close skills resource centre where young people can be supported into meaningful employment.

Healthy lifestyle

Healthy Lifestyle

Goal/Outcome	Progress	Focus for September 2023 – July 2024
Building resilience through good relationships, sex and health education in schools and settings.	National programme under CDC launched via DFE.	Youth survey to check impact and gaps for RSHE and sexual health clinic accessibility.
Delivering timely access to emotional health and wellbeing, neurodiversity and therapy services.	Thrive framework developed. EBSA and ELSA workplan in place. 111 ELSAs attended ELSA conference. 16-25 mental health pathway. ICP priority plans established – mental health, SLT, Neurodiversity and health inequalities in place. Working with Brent partners to develop Brent’s All Age Autism Strategy and learning disabilities all age strategy. MDT for early years in Willow Family Wellbeing Centre. NHS staff training – Oliver McGowan training on LD and ASD.	Implementing the thrive model. Implementing the neurodiversity pathway review plan. Scale up of the mental health support teams in schools programme. Agree and confirm funding arrangements for service transformation.
Having good physical health by being able to access healthcare locally.	GP annual health checks. LD health checks for 16+ programme developed. 4 Community paediatric health hubs in place. Neighbourhood plan for Willesden established for CYP linked to the DBV. Progress additional weekly Disability Sports Coaching session (i.e. a special school in Kingsbury). Oral health on line training sessions for parents.	Expand locality-based working in joining up health inequalities, family wellbeing centres and SEND. Emotional wellbeing drop-in café operating in Willesden hub. Enuresis and continence pathway business case submitted to ICB.
Developing opportunities for young people to eat healthily and to access and enjoy local restaurants.	BeeZee bodies roll out. Work with Brent Public Health to reactivate both the ‘Diet and Health Programme’ and ‘Healthy Catering Commitment Award Scheme’.	Healthy eating programme implemented in community settings. Local restaurants with disability confident standards.
Providing access to good community healthcare services including sexual health.	Dedicated drop in services in community for sexual health provision.	Young people’s survey – check on accessibility.
Promoting the Active B card so that young people can access sport and fitness opportunities in Brent.	Promote discounted physical sports provision through take- up ‘B Active Cards’ and ‘Registered Disabled Yellow Cards’ by young people aged 17-25 with EHC Plans on the local offer.	Review take up.

Active citizens of Brent

Goal/Outcome	Progress	Focus for September 2023 – July 2024
Offer sufficient short break activities for Brent children and young people, including opportunities to socialise together and with differently abled young people.	Short Breaks statement in place. Review of CWD criteria and publishing of criteria. Work with BPCF and third sector to expand offer. Develop the capacity of the VCS to deliver inclusive youth provision via training. Support the VCS to access external funding opportunities.	Devise ‘Ten Top Tips for all leisure and youth programme providers. Develop the offer at Welsh Harp and Gordon Brown Centre – explore new DfE funds. 25 by 25 challenge initiative rolled out via third sector. Develop the capacity of the VCS to deliver inclusive youth provision via training. Support the development of touch points across Brent so that young people can develop their own communities of interest.
Celebrate the excellence of young people in Brent through an annual festival.	A celebration was held at the Civic Centre in June 2023 to celebrate Brent’s young people with SEND.	Review programme for 2024.

Independent living

Goal/Outcome	Progress	Focus for September 2023 – July 2024
Equips young people with the skills to live independently in their own homes or with their parents.	Develop new transport policy that includes personal budgets and travel training opportunities, Parent support programme established via the BPCF to support parents to be aspirational about their children’s level of independence.	Launch new transport policy and training provision. Expand the provision of independent living training.
Enable young people to choose and control the services they receive, through personal budgets.	Refresh the personal budget guidance and policy developed with Young People and parents and carers.	Increased number receiving personal budgets.

My Brent

Goal/Outcome	Progress	Focus for September 2023 – July 2024
Enable our Brent young advisors and parents to engage with Children’s Trust partners so they can shape the Brent of the future.	Establish Brent young advisors network.	Network meeting quarterly. Annual survey. Improve the engagement of young people in shaping their future.
Develop SEND friendly parks and town centres; Wheelchair friendly environments; create safe spaces, safety messaging and skills training in how to stay safe.	Parks working group established and working with parents/carers and young people to redevelop four of Brent’s as SEND-friendly spaces as a prototype for all Brent parks. Cleaner Brent App has been promoted to SEND families to help maintain wheelchair friendly environment.	4 parks open with SEND friendly spaces. Safe Spaces’ initiative being developed in partnership with Community Safety team Building on the COP 21 schools conference, young advisors and BPCF to Work with Brent’s Climate Change group for a healthier environment. Measure impact.
Support young people with SEND to stay in Brent.	Work with Brent Housing Department to expand the scope of access to supported accommodation as part of the Housing Plans. Brent Hubs are SEND navigator trained so that all services can better support families with SEND children providing one stop shops for young people, parents and carers on housing, and available support. Brent council has rolled out autism awareness training across the Council. Dedicated CODA work underway led by Brent Start and communities department. Local offer provides access to the widest opportunities in Brent to fulfil their ambitions. Strong parent/carer forum through BPCF CIC (600 members and 11 champions).	Work with Brent Housing Department to expand the scope of access to supported accommodation as part of the Housing Plans. Continue to strengthen parental engagement and measure the impact of the activities on improving the experience of families with children with SEND.