New partnership announced to support SEND reform

The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) and IMPOWER have announced a new partnership offering insight and practical support to local SEND systems at a critical point in SEND system reform.

CDC is both a trusted national voice on SEND, with deep expertise in policy, children’s rights and co-production, and an award-winning partner working with local SEND teams to drive improvements in support for children and families. IMPOWER brings extensive experience supporting local authorities and public services to design and deliver sustainable, outcomes-focused change across SEND and wider public services.

By combining complementary expertise, IMPOWER and CDC will support local systems to translate national policy ambition into practical, child-centred change.

IMPOWER and CDC have worked together for many years, including as part of a consortium delivering the Department for Education’s SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme - Reaching Excellence and Ambition for all Children (REACH). IMPOWER are also partnered with CDC to deliver the What Works in SEND awards in April.

Through this new partnership, IMPOWER and CDC will work together to offer comprehensive delivery support to areas, bringing in other specialist support organisations to create bespoke improvement input. The partnership will support local systems to navigate change – setting and delivering an inclusive ambition. This includes responding to potential change brought about by the Schools White Paper and further expected policy and financial announcements, helping to translate these policy ambitions into co-produced, practical, child-centred improvements - strengthening inclusion, improving experiences for families, and ensuring services are sustainable for the future.

As part of this work, IMPOWER and CDC anticipate convening shared learning activity to help all systems prepare and drive change in this next phase of SEND reform.

Sean Hanson, Chief Executive of IMPOWER, said: “SEND reform only works if national ambition is matched by practical support for local systems to deliver change on the ground. Through this partnership, we can support local systems to take what works, apply it locally, and deliver change that is practical, inclusive and sustainable.”

Amanda Allard, Strategic Director, Council for Disabled Children, said: “At the heart of SEND reform must be the voices and experiences of children, young people and their families. For it to succeed, it must reflect what they tell us matters most. This work will support local areas to apply learning and evidence in ways that help create more inclusive services and better outcomes.”