Strengthened Local Area SEND Partnership Board arrangements

Wirral’s Local Area Partnership have refreshed the governance arrangements for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) to strengthen accountability, decision making, and ensure improvement plans are successfully delivered.

Following publication of Wirral’s Written Statement of Action (WSoA) in April 2022, the SEND Transformation Board was established to oversee the partnership response to the findings of the Local Area SEND Inspection (September 2021). When the SEND Transformation Board was initiated the existing SEND Strategic Board was stood down to ensure priority was given to the WSoA. For approximately 12 months the SEND Transformation Board had oversight of all improvement work.

Whilst there had been a lot of activity overseen by the SEND Transformation Board, not enough progress had been made in tackling some of the big issues affecting children and young people with SEND and their families. Therefore, it has been necessary to review the governance arrangements and make sure the right people are at the table to make positive change happen.

With DfE endorsement, the Chief Executive of Wirral Borough Council will chair the board. The and the Leader of the Council, Lead Member for Children’s Services, and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board will also join the board  joining to further strengthen oversight and governance arrangements.

Moving forward:

The Local Area SEND Partnership Board will meet on a monthly basis. There is a commitment to publish board papers on the Local Offer website, SENDLO.

The Local Area SEND Partnership Board is responsible for setting the strategic vision for delivery of support and services for children, young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability and is committed to working at pace, to ensure that SEND Services are delivering the improvement required.