{"id":64064,"date":"2015-11-12T16:10:04","date_gmt":"2015-11-12T16:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=3e306df7713f650e9578f321ed1ad293"},"modified":"2015-11-12T16:10:04","modified_gmt":"2015-11-12T16:10:04","slug":"speech-edward-timpson-addresses-cdc-annual-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=64064","title":{"rendered":"Speech: Edward Timpson addresses CDC annual conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A little more than a year on from the special educational needs and disability (SEND<\/abbr>) reforms coming into force, today\u2019s conference is an opportune moment to pause for reflection, take stock, check we\u2019re on track, and look ahead to make sure we\u2019re confident of securing the transformation and culture change set out in that initial vision.<\/p>\n

And in doing so we should remind ourselves what we\u2019re trying to fix and why.<\/p>\n

Why are these reforms necessary? Well, let me give you 3 good reasons:<\/p>\n

First, for too long, too many families have had to fight too hard to get the support their children need. They feel the system doesn\u2019t work for them.<\/p>\n

Second, it remains the case that children and young people with SEND<\/abbr> don\u2019t do as well in early years and school as they should, and don\u2019t have as many opportunities for further education, training and employment as they deserve.<\/p>\n

Third, the law, and the systems that existed – at national and local level – didn\u2019t encourage education, health and social care agencies to work together for the benefit of the children and families in need of their support. The incentives weren\u2019t there, let alone the clear legal duties to make it happen. <\/p>\n

Things had to get better. So we\u2019ve made fundamental changes to the law. But in doing so, we must also make changes to systems so the tide they create flows with families and not against them. And, for some, the reforms also mean changes to attitudes and mindsets. After all, any system is only as good as the people working within it. <\/p>\n

Only if we do all of these things, in tandem with one another, will we make real and lasting improvements. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s why, from my perspective, it has been so emboldening to meet so many people who work hard, and show real commitment, to improving the lives of all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.<\/p>\n

And I\u2019m in no doubt that it\u2019s because of that commitment that there\u2019s widespread support for the reforms that are quintessentially about realising the ambitions and aspirations for disabled children and young people and those with special educational needs. <\/p>\n

But in setting out to achieve just that, we also need to recognise that despite our collective impatience to \u2018get on with it\u2019, these reforms will take a while to embed. Yet with continued support – and challenge – and with the voices of parents, children and young people at the heart of service delivery, I\u2019m confident we will continue to see changes which empower, support and enable children and young people reach their full potential.<\/p>\n

So it\u2019s only right that I use this opportunity to register how grateful I am for all of the enormous effort so many people have put in to make the changes work.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been impressive to see and hear about the progress being made in many areas – the leadership that local authorities have shown, the genuine co-production with parent-carer forums that exists, and how young people are being engaged. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m also hugely appreciative of organisations, like CDC<\/abbr>, Contact a Family, IPSEA<\/abbr>, Nasen, the LGA<\/abbr> and many others, for the way they\u2019ve provided constructive challenge along the way. And for the support, advice and leadership they continue to give.<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s fair to say that some aspects of the reforms are a natural progression – in essence, getting better at what we already do. And some require us to operate differently. For example, designing support around the needs of families was always how it was supposed to work (and sometimes did, but not nearly enough).<\/p>\n

Agencies working together, sharing information, joining up – that\u2019s not new. The duty to make sure families have access to impartial information, advice and support has been with us for years.<\/p>\n

But the reforms also introduced EHC<\/abbr> plans, local offers and new arrangements for 16- to 25-year-olds because it\u2019s critical that families are properly and genuinely involved in designing how these things are developed and implemented locally. <\/p>\n

And although not all those barriers, system joins, communication vacuums and duplications of effort have disappeared, I urge you to keep at it because the rewards will be worth it.<\/p>\n

When systems work well – and perhaps more importantly, people across the systems drive a collective improvement in the quality of assessment, planning and delivery – they make a real difference to children and young people.<\/p>\n

Some of you may know Corey, who is here with us today and taking part in a workshop later on. Corey\u2019s a member of EPIC<\/abbr>, a young people\u2019s group we\u2019ve been working with for a few years now and who\u2019s been immensely valuable in helping shape these reforms by telling us how it is, no holds barred. I think Corey puts it well when he said:<\/p>\n

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The SEND<\/abbr> reforms aim to create a more fluid and inclusive system of support for me and people like me, but it will take time, patience and resources.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And in an event about vision, it\u2019s only fitting that I offer you mine. It\u2019s one I hope you share. In simplistic terms, it is this.<\/p>\n

Our vision for children with SEN<\/abbr> and disabilities is the same as that for all children and young people – that they achieve well in their early years, at school and in college, that they find employment; lead happy and fulfilled lives; and experience choice and control.<\/p>\n

A vision is one thing, but it\u2019s imperative that we keep measuring ourselves against it to really understand whether it\u2019s taking hold. So, how are we doing? The headline facts, I think, are these:<\/p>\n