19 June 2026 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

As we move towards the end of another busy academic year, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your continued engagement, support and partnership working across Kent’s SEND system.

Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed feedback and engaged with the development of Kent’s SEND Reform Plan which was submitted to the DfE on Thursday 18 June. The level of participation from settings, partners, parents and professionals has been exceptional and has helped us shape a plan that reflects the strengths, challenges and ambitions of our local system. We have developed ‘you said we did reports’ following on from the engagement and feedback we received which will be uploaded to the local offer and Kelsi in the upcoming weeks..

In particular, I would like to thank our colleagues in KALE and KSENT for their constructive challenge, insight and ongoing commitment throughout this process, especially in the tight timeframes. The quality of discussion and collaboration has been invaluable. The plan will need to be formally signed off by the Department for Education around September, However we are keen to continue to work closely with the sector as we move into development and implementation of some of the workstreams in the plan.

Many of you will also be aware of the recently published guidance relating to Experts at Hand. This provides an important opportunity to strengthen inclusive practice and improve access to specialist expertise across the system. Over the coming months we will be working with settings and partners to further develop Kent’s approach, ensuring that implementation reflects local need and builds on what has been learned from the work which has taken place this academic year. The Professional Resource Group survey (emailed to schools) is now live and will be the first step in gathering systematic information as to the experiences of schools so far. We would like to thank schools for their engagement in the survey as it is crucial that the experience within schools is reflected in how we move forward.

Quality assurance remains a key priority for us as we continue our improvement journey. A particular focus this coming year will be strengthening the quality and timeliness of Annual Reviews. We know that effective reviews are fundamental to ensuring that children and young people receive the right support at the right time, and we are committed to working alongside settings to improve consistency, quality and outcomes. Thank you for the significant efforts many of you have already made in this area.

I would like to thank all settings for completing the Alternative Provision returns earlier this year. Your timely submissions have provided valuable information that is helping us develop our local approach. We are currently refining this work in line with Department for Education guidance and, importantly, in response to the feedback received from the sector. Our aim is to ensure that future arrangements provide greater clarity, consistency and support for schools whilst helping us better understand and meet the needs of children and young people accessing alternative provision.

As we prepare for the upcoming Local Area SEND Inspection, I would also like to recognise the tremendous work taking place across Kent every day. Across our settings we continue to see excellent examples of inclusive practice, innovative approaches to supporting children and young people with SEND, strong partnership working with families, and a relentless focus on improving outcomes. We know there is still work to do, but there is also much to celebrate. Please follow Kent SEND Together on LinkedIn for more regular updates and please feedback if there is any updates you may find useful.

I recently had the opportunity to visit The Rosewood School, to see the grounds, understand their curriculum and have a chance to speak to the wonderful students who attend and staff. Previously we attended the Northfleet Nursery School, spending the day with the young students during their lesson times. We spoke with the headteacher Neerasha Singh, who is also an Inclusion Champion. During the day we had conversations with staff about their experiences of working at Northfleet Nursery and were able to interact with children - the topic of the day was 'what does inclusion look like to you'.

Last year myself and Alice Gleave were lucky enough to attend both Woodstock at Five Acre Wood School and the KSENT Games. At Woodstock, we were blown away by the atmosphere, the joy and the care that had gone into every detail. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate with the children and young people. The sensory experiences created by staff were simply incredible and reflected the passion, creativity and unwavering commitment that Five Acre Wood is known for. At the KSENT Games, it was impossible not to get involved - including having a go with the rocket launchers alongside the young people! Seeing children and young people having fun, building confidence, trying new things and being celebrated for who they are was genuinely inspiring. Thank you to everyone involved in making these events so special; they showcase the very best of Kent and the extraordinary dedication of the staff who make opportunities like these possible.

We would love to hear about positive work happening in your settings whether this is through effective graduated approaches, innovative inclusion projects, successful transitions, improvements in attendance, pupil voice initiatives or outstanding partnership work with families and agencies. Please email Feedback4send@kent.gov.uk.

Thank you once again for your continued commitment to Kent’s children and young people. The progress we are making is only possible because of the dedication, expertise and partnership that exists across our schools, settings and services. We look forward to continuing this work together over the coming months.

Best wishes

Sophie Dann
Assistant Director SEN Strategy and Quality Assurance