All systems go...

We’re finally here. The Children and Families Act 2014 comes into effect today. Although local authorities have until April 2018 to replace all Statements of Special Educational Needs with Education, Health and Care plans (EHCP), they should, by 1 September 2014, have put in place a ‘local offer’ and transitional arrangements.

Are local authorities ready?

Are the joint commissioning arrangements with health partners and education in place?

Enquiries at our offices before schools broke up for the summer holidays showed joint commissioning with health partners to be a particular area of concern. Does this mean that we may be seeing local authorities taking health partners to task by resorting to judicial review?

The next few months will be interesting. Will the transition be smooth? Will nothing much change? Or will we see radical changes in the approach to working with families and children/young people with special educational needs?

If all goes well, Part 3 of the Children and Families Act has the possibility of making real improvements to provision and outcomes for children with special educational needs and disabilities ensuring that professionals, parents and young people fully participate in decision-making.