URL: https://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4248

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: To formally approve the Local Area SEND Reform Plan. This follows submission to the DfE on 19 June as per the delegated authority to Executive Director People in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children Young People and Health, agreed by Cabinet on 28 April

Content: RESOLVED that the Cabinet   ·       Endorses the final Local SEND Reform Plan 2026–2029 and Local Partnership  Maturity Matrix, noting that the plan will already have been submitted to the Department for Education on 19 June 2026 in line with national timelines and agreedat the 28 April 2026 Cabinet meeting.   ·       Delegates authority to the Executive Director: People, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Health, to agree the Experts at Hand grant expenditure in line with national grant conditions to mobilise the offer / service by September 2026   The Local SEND Reform Plan is the national accountability vehicle through which Government will assess the readiness and credibility of local area partnerships’ SEND reform approaches. Local areas are required to submit plans to the Department for Education to secure approval and access associated national support and funding arrangements.   Approval of the final plan provides Cabinet-level confirmation of the partnership’s strategic direction and local commitment. Although the plan will already have been submitted under delegated authority in line with national timelines, Cabinet endorsement is important for transparent democratic oversight and reinforces collective accountability for delivery across education, health and care.   Cabinet is also asked to agree delegation for decisions and spend relating to the Experts at Hand grant. This grant is intended to fund the development and delivery of a new Experts at Hand offer for mainstream settings and to fund necessary local authority administrative and transformation activity linked to SEND reform planning.   Mobilisation timescales are challenging. Decisions will be required at pace over the summer period to ensure that services, workforce arrangements and delivery mechanisms are operational for September. Returning to Cabinet for subsequent approvals for individual spend decisions would create a significant risk of delay and would undermine the ability to meet expected national timelines and local delivery requirements. Delegation to the Executive Director: People, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, provides the necessary agility while retaining appropriate accountability and governance.   No alternative options were considered. The local area partnership is required to develop and submit a Local SEND Reform Plan in June 2026, underpinned by a Local Partnership Maturity Assessment, in line with the nationally prescribed framework and commissioning arrangements. None

Date of Decision: June 23, 2026