More support for children with SEND announced
The Department for Education has announced measures to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including short breaks, supported internship opportunities and better support for those with Down syndrome.
The DfE's short breaks innovation programme – which provides a range of activities for children with SEND to help improve their health, education and wellbeing outcomes – will be extended to a further seven local authorities.
Backed by £30 million, activities include cooking classes, theatre trips and craft workshops, providing children with SEND an opportunity to develop social skills and friendships, whilst offering parents a break from caring responsibilities.
Alongside the short breaks programme, children and young people are being supported to reach their full potential with a pilot introduced to test widening eligibility of the supported internships programme.
The work-based study programme for young people aged 16 to 24 is currently for those who have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP), and aims to provide support during the transition from education into paid employment. Twelve local authorities are taking part in the pilot of the programme, supporting those who do not have an EHCP but require extra support to gain employment.
The DfE has also announced it will be collecting new data about the numbers of children with Down syndrome and where they are educated through changes to the School Census. This is to progress the DfE's commitment to improving the life outcomes and opportunities for people with Down syndrome, to identify good practice and shape long term services. This follows on from the Down Syndrome Act 2022 aiming to raise the understanding and awareness of the specific needs of people with Down syndrome.
The Short Breaks Innovation Fund is a £30 million programme aiming to improve support services for children with SEND and their families, by funding local authorities to establish innovative projects to address gaps in current short break services.
Local authorities are provided with up to £1.5 million each to deliver and fund new activities and experiences for children and young people with SEND, which would otherwise be inaccessible. The first and second years of funding have helped pilot new approaches to build a body of evidence to inform practice nationally.
The supported internships pilot builds on £18 million investment in supported internships, which aims to develop capacity in the system to double the number of supported internships per year to 4,500 by 2025.
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