The Medway Joint SEND Strategy was launched in 2019. This was a three-year strategy that built on the previous SEND strategy and incorporated our improvement plans following the Joint SEND Inspection in 2017.
It was an ambitious plan which set out the joint vision across health, education and council services for children and young people aged 0-25 years (who have special educational needs and disabilities) and their families.
It also set out the seven strategic priorities co-produced with parents, carers and young people in Medway. Actions were attributed to each priority to help us achieve our aims. Many of these actions have now been completed and we are starting to see the impact these are having on the lives of children and young people.
The joint SEND strategy was for Medway Council and all partners in Medway to adopt, support and contribute to. By working together, we can achieve the best outcomes for our children and young people with SEND and their families.
The full Joint SEND Strategy and updates on our progress towards the priority actions can be found in the SEND Strategy Action plan on the Local Offer page.
The current Joint SEND Strategy runs until January 2022 and we are now starting to work with schools, parents, carers, young people and health services colleagues to agree what the new SEND Strategy for 2022-2025 should focus on.
Keep an eye out for regular updates on the progress of the new Joint SEND Strategy.
 In the school year 2019-20, the Medway Special Educational Needs Team received:
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474 requests for education, health and care (EHC) assessments
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41% of these requests came from parents/carers or young people
- So far in the school year (2020-21), the SEN team has received 376 requests for EHC assessments, of which 49% are from parents/carers or young people.
When the Local Authority considers a request for a EHC assessment, there is a “two part test” set out in law. This says that the Local Authority must assess if the child or young person has or may have special educational needs, and it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made through an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
When deciding whether provision may need to be made through an EHCP, the Local Authority looks for evidence to show that the *graduated approach has been put in place for the child or young person at nursery, school, or college.
*The graduated approach is known as 'assess, plan, do, review'
Assess: the nursery, school or college must determine what the child or young person has difficulty with.
Plan: the nursery, school or college decides what can be put in place to help and progress learning.
Do: to put the support needed in place.
Review: that the support needs to be reviewed after a period of time to find out what effect it has had and whether the child or young person has progressed.
Most children and young people’s special educational needs can be met appropriately in nursery, school, or college using the graduated approach without the need for an EHCP. Many of the parent/carer or young person requests received are turned down as there is no evidence of the graduated approach, or the support that the nursery, school, or college has put in place is appropriate and does not require an EHCP. We know that these decisions often disappoint, so we would encourage any parent/carer or young person to talk to their SENCO before making a request for EHC assessment to find out what the school is doing or can do for a child or young person, and what is in place for them.
The Medway SEN team will always carefully consider any request made for EHC assessment whether it is from a parent, carer, young person, or educational setting, but requests are more likely to be agreed when parents, carers or the young person and the school have worked together to consider the child or young person’s special educational needs and what help they need.
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Medway Virtual School
All schools from Medway Virtual School (MVS) were asked to nominate children/young people from children in care for outstanding effort and achievement in school / working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
46 students from different schools were nominated. As a result, MVS sent out cards and vouchers congratulating them on their achievement.
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Young people with disablities groups
Are you looking for a way to make a difference in your community? If you are aged 13-25 and have a disability, we need you. We have two groups:
- Age 13-18
- Age 18-25
These groups provide an opportunity to meet other young people and have your say on the services that matter to you in Medway.
If you are a young person looking to join or would like to recommend a young person for the group, please contact Debby Omijie at deborah.omijie@medway.gov.uk or wendy.vincent@medway.gov.uk
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SENDIAS
What can SENDIAS offer?
• Free impartial and confidential information, advice and support in relation to education, health and social care
• Support to express views, wishes and feelings
• Support at meetings with schools, colleges and the Local Authority
• Support with appeal procedures and paperwork
• Help to complete SEND related paperwork
• Supporting young people aged 16 to 25 in their own right
• Signposting to other services
How to access our service:
- As a parent, carer, or young person you can:
Telephone or email our service directly for free impartial and confidential information, advice and support with any matters relating to special educational needs or disability within education, health or social care.
- As a professional you can:
Advise parents to make contact with SENDIAS directly.
Medway SENDIAS are happy to offer professionals advice and support in matters relating to SEND.
For more information, phone 01634 566303 or email medwaysendias@family-action.org.uk
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Forward2Employment offer 38-week supported internships that will mirror school terms. Interns attend the workplace four days a week and spend one day a week improving their employability and independence skills.
They enable young people aged 19-24 with a statement of Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to achieve sustainable paid employment by learning skills in the workplace. Interns attend the workplace four days a week and spend one day a week improving their employability and independence skills (there is flexibility on this, depending on your work patterns).
Other info:
- Supported Internships are unpaid and last for a minimum of six months
- Wherever possible, the supported internship programme supports the young person to move into paid employment at the end of their placement.
- The programme is free for both the intern and the business
Click here if you know a young person who would be a good fit for a Supported Internship
Click here if you are a business and want to join this free-for-business programme
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Vision/Hearing screen for Reception and Year One
You will be aware that the vision/hearing screen for Reception and Year One was disrupted due to school closures. Schools & parents were advised to contact their GP if they had any issues regarding their child’s hearing or vision.
If you have any concerns, please speak to your school nurse, the screeners or ask parents to contact their local GP Practice.
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The Early Years SEN Team are out and about visiting settings that are now able to run face-to-face sessions, including SENCO surgeries and hosting discussions about the support children need.
For those settings not yet ready to hold our face-to-face service, we are still providing phone and video call appointments. We have started to see individual families within Children and Family Centres and we’re working with the centres to plan our return to group sessions soon.
For our Early Years settings we have provided some online training over the last year and we are continuing to do this.
Visit our Children and Family Hubs page for the latest news
Does your child have Autism and/or ADHD, or do you have concerns about your child’s behaviour?
The Small Steps Team support families pre and post diagnosis by providing
tailoured practical and emotional help.
We offer support :
- Within the home
- Drop in parent support groups
- Education
- Parenting Groups/Parent/Carer drop-in
- Support to access local services and meet other families in a similar situation
For more information about Small Steps please contact the Small Steps Team on 01634 913219 or email MedwaySmallSteps@family-action.org.uk
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