The move from a single annual SEN2 return to additional quarterly reporting of SEND data requires a different approach to data management for Local Authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). It’s vital that data quality is now monitored and maintained year-round and data cleaning exercises are embedded in day-to-day practice.
The first quarterly returns, submitted last week, which Mime produced for several local authorities across England, is already providing valuable insights into how local areas are progressing with the first phase of implementing their SEND reform plans. It also highlights challenges, particularly around data quality, joined up working, and the rollout of Experts at Hand.
At Mime, through our extensive work with local partnerships on SEND and inclusion, we are seeing first-hand how these challenges are playing out.
Growing EHCP cohorts
A significant finding from the first return is that many Local Authorities are experiencing greater growth in their EHCP cohorts than originally forecast.
This reflects what we are hearing in conversations with Local Authorities, many of whom report increased tribunal activity and more new requests for EHCPs.
There is a growing sense that families and schools are seeking to secure support before proposed legislative changes. It reinforces the need to have forecasting models that can adapt to the latest intelligence, giving accurate data to understand implications for future requirements for provision and funding.
Improving data quality is key
The first quarterly report of EHCP data has highlighted several quality issues, including missing primary needs of young people, missing dates of birth and incomplete information on annual reviews. However, perhaps the most significant concern is the quality and accuracy of school and college placement data. Some Local Authorities draw placement information from a child’s EHCP, and many settings will have changed in September resulting in the need to update this data. For many, this has been a big job.
This has significant implications. Accurate funding forecasts depend on good quality data on placements because different types of placement carry substantially different costs to the High Needs Block.
Health and therapy provision
The quarterly return also highlights some of the challenges of working in partnership, for example across Local Authorities and ICBs, to develop a more joined-up picture of SEND provision.
Accessing accurate data on health and therapies provision can be an issue, particularly for children without an EHCP. Many areas are not yet routinely collecting individual child casework information in the format the DfE requires. Instead, they are relying on estimates to demonstrate the reach and impact of wider system changes.
This is an important area for development. Strong, joined-up working leads to reliable information sharing and greater insight on who is receiving support and where gaps remain.
One of the key areas of the reforms is the Experts at Hands offer, bringing specialist support such as educational psychologists, occupational and speech and language therapists into mainstream settings. But the first quarterly returns showthat some areas are not yet reporting on this offer. This points to the difficulties of recruitment and mobilisation of a restricted pool of experts. In some areas, commissioning agreements still need to be arranged.
Shared learning
As the UK’s leading SEND data specialist, having worked with more than 50 local authorities, one thing we consistently see is the value of shared learning.
This is why we recently launched Mime’s SEND Benchmarking Club: bringing together our national and regional forecasts for Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) growth with real-time local authority data. It is currently the only regional dataset for the SEND reforms publicly available.
We bring members together in a series of webinars to share learning, exchange ideas and challenge each other on how to improve outcomes. We also identify areas of particularly strong practice across the country and connect members directly.
The first quarterly returns have shown us where some of the challenges lie. This is a new reporting requirement, and many people want to learn from others before the next one. The opportunity now is to share learnings between local authorities and use those insights to improve data quality and data sharing to support the next stages of SEND reform.
If you’re responsible for SEND planning, provision or budgets, we’d love to talk to you about the Mime SEND Benchmarking Club.
