Locality Model for Special Educational Needs Inclusion

Teacher standing behind a desk talking to 3 students, there is science equipment on the desk between them.

Update 9 May 2024

Thank you to everyone who took part in this consultation. The Consultation Report and KCC's response to the consultation are now available in the Documents section on this page.

The report will be presented to the Children's, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on 16 May 2024 for their consideration and recommendation. Following this meeting a decision is expected to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills. We will publish details of the decision on this webpage.

Original text

We are proposing to establish a Locality Model for Special Educational Needs (SEN) Inclusion in Kent, which would help drive necessary countywide improvements to mainstream inclusion and education, for children and young people aged 5 to 16 years old with SEN.

The proposed Model, would mean SEN support and services being accessed and delivered in a new way, making better use of local education and SEN expertise.

The ambition is that children and young people’s needs are identified accurately and assessed in a timely and effective way, so they receive the right support, in the right place and at the right time.

We have been talking to schools, parents, and to SEN staff in Kent to understand what needs to happen. We have been told, and our research has found, that stronger and more consistent mainstream support will lead to positive outcomes for children and young people and help parents to have confidence in that mainstream offer for their child.

The proposed Model would call for KCC, Schools, the NHS, and other SEN service providers to work together, locally, to secure these improvements. We hope this proposal will help all pupils to thrive at school, to feel that they are included in their local communities, and are better prepared for a happy, healthy and productive adulthood.

Full details of the proposals are in the consultation document. There is also a shorter summary document, frequently asked questions, and easy read version. All can be found in the ‘Documents’ section on this page.

Have your say!

We want to hear your views. Please complete the questionnaire below to provide your feedback on the proposed Locality Model and what any changes could mean for you.

A range of face-to-face events will take place during the consultation to explain the proposals and to respond to questions. Details of these events are available on this page.

What happens next?

The responses will be analysed and presented in a consultation report. This report will be published on this page and presented to Members of the Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee in Spring 2024 for their consideration and recommendation.

Following this meeting a decision is expected to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills. We will then publish details of the decision.

Update 9 May 2024

Thank you to everyone who took part in this consultation. The Consultation Report and KCC's response to the consultation are now available in the Documents section on this page.

The report will be presented to the Children's, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on 16 May 2024 for their consideration and recommendation. Following this meeting a decision is expected to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills. We will publish details of the decision on this webpage.

Original text

We are proposing to establish a Locality Model for Special Educational Needs (SEN) Inclusion in Kent, which would help drive necessary countywide improvements to mainstream inclusion and education, for children and young people aged 5 to 16 years old with SEN.

The proposed Model, would mean SEN support and services being accessed and delivered in a new way, making better use of local education and SEN expertise.

The ambition is that children and young people’s needs are identified accurately and assessed in a timely and effective way, so they receive the right support, in the right place and at the right time.

We have been talking to schools, parents, and to SEN staff in Kent to understand what needs to happen. We have been told, and our research has found, that stronger and more consistent mainstream support will lead to positive outcomes for children and young people and help parents to have confidence in that mainstream offer for their child.

The proposed Model would call for KCC, Schools, the NHS, and other SEN service providers to work together, locally, to secure these improvements. We hope this proposal will help all pupils to thrive at school, to feel that they are included in their local communities, and are better prepared for a happy, healthy and productive adulthood.

Full details of the proposals are in the consultation document. There is also a shorter summary document, frequently asked questions, and easy read version. All can be found in the ‘Documents’ section on this page.

Have your say!

We want to hear your views. Please complete the questionnaire below to provide your feedback on the proposed Locality Model and what any changes could mean for you.

A range of face-to-face events will take place during the consultation to explain the proposals and to respond to questions. Details of these events are available on this page.

What happens next?

The responses will be analysed and presented in a consultation report. This report will be published on this page and presented to Members of the Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee in Spring 2024 for their consideration and recommendation.

Following this meeting a decision is expected to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills. We will then publish details of the decision.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Have your say!

    We would like to hear your views on our new Locality Model and have provided this questionnaire for you to provide your feedback. 

    We recommend you read either the consultation summary or consultation document before responding to this questionnaire.

    You can answer all or as many of the questions as you like. If you would rather not provide feedback on a section or question, just move on to the next one. 

    Complete questionnaire