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SEND Improvement Plan

We've created an 'improvement plan' that is going to help us achieve the ambitions of our SEND Strategy, and make the experience of SEND services and support in Hertfordshire much better.

We've got 9 areas of improvement to focus on, and we've set out the aims for these below. 

Governance and framework for the SEND Improvement Plan (PDF 543kb)

(If you need the information in this PDF in an accessible format, please email SENDStrategy@hertfordshire.gov.uk).

The plan:

1: Improving the quality of lived experiences for children and young people with SEND

  • Ensuring EHCPs deliver high-quality outcomes for children and young people.
  • Ensuring that QA findings are acted upon and analysed to provide insight, and these are shared with key groups to inform decision making.
  • Ensuring that the voice of children, young people and their families is embedded in our QA approach and informs our improvement work.
  • Embedding the Herts Outcome Bee framework and the Herts Professional Promise across all areas of practice.

How will we know we've succeeded?

  • We will see in increase in the percentage of 'good' and 'outstanding' EHCPs in place.
  • We will have a regular reporting cycle and a set of agreed reports in place.
  • We will see an increase in the percentage of reporting which has the 'voice of the child captured'.
  • We will see an increase in the percentage of audit work that has the voice of the child and family captured.
  • There will be an increase in the percentage of staff who are aware of the Outcome Bee Framework and Professional Promise (measured through a staff survey).
  • The Professional Promise and Outcome bees will be embedded in the staff induction programme.
  • We will see an increase in the percentage of staff viewing Professional Promise materials online.

2: Improving our communication, and creating more opportunities to design services together with children and young people and their families

  • Increasing awareness of the Local Offer website and channels.
  • Improving our general communications with families and also with all professionals who work with children and young people in Hertfordshire.
  • Improving the direct communications that families get from services they get help from.
  • Making a 'coproduction charter' - a document that sets out how we make sure children, young people and their families are involved in decision-making when planning services.
  • Creating new opportunities for children and young people to have their voices heard and new ways for us to make sure we listen and learn from these.

How will we know we've succeeded?

  • We will see an increase in the traffic to the Local Offer website and the following on our other channels (facebook, twitter, SEND News).
  • We will see an increase in the percentage of families who have heard of the Local Offer (measured through the HPCI annual survey).
  • We will see a reduction in the percentage of complaints that are about communication with services.
  • We will have co-production charter in place for parents and carers.
  • Evidence of co-production work.
  • Evidence of views and experiences informing improvement work.

3: Improving health services, and services we pay other organisations to provide

  • Updating and agreeing Section 75 Agreement for Overnight Short Breaks.
  • Continuing input, interface and oversight of SEND health related improvement programmes (i.e. Therapies, Autism, Community Paediatrics, Nursing).
  • Monitoring delivery of the Designated Medical Officer (DMO) and Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) action plan to clarify and improve delivery of those functions.
  • Developing and embedding a joint protocol for responding to complaints.
  • Improving the voice of children and young people and parents/ carers in delivering health services.

How will we know we've succeeded?

  • We will have the Section 75 Agreement signed-off for Overnight Short Breaks and a new process put in place.
  • We will see waiting times reduced for diagnostic assessments and referrals.
  • We will see increased and higher quality health input to EHCPs.
  • We will see an improvement in the quality of response to complaints.
  • We will see evidence of a wider scope of involvement by children, young people and parents/carers via a more unified approach between Childrens Services and health services.

4: Improving services for children in the early years (ages 0 - 5)

  • Work with partners to develop a clear pathway and appropriate support for children with medical needs which significantly impact access to learning.
  • Develop pathways for SEND support in Early Years reflecting the graduated response for emerging needs, making information available so parents / carers understand where to get support at the first point.
  • Also develop pathways for SEND support in Early Years reflecting the graduated response for multi-layered needs.  
  • Developing a clear, well-communicated process for sharing section 23 notifications to support planning for SEND.
  • Continually improving the Early Years offer - improving joint working between all services working in Early Years, and making them accessible earlier to meet families’ needs.

How will we know we've succeeded?

  • There will be an increase in the percentage of children with medical needs which significantly impact access to learning accessing free early education.
  • We will see an increase in the percentage of children with medical needs which significantly impact access to learning successfully transitioning into mainstream school.
  • The new process and pathway for early years children will be put in place, for emerging needs and multi-layered needs, enabling earlier access to EHCPs.
  • We will see improved access to information about early years support for parents.
  • There will be an increase in the number of children who are supported early with EHC needs assessments, so that those who need an EHCP have it in place as formal education begins. 
  • There will be an increase in the number of children with SEND attending early years provision in more inclusive environments with trained staff.
  • Clarifty around the process for section 23 notifications will increase via a new process and new sharing point, improving action plan completion. 
  • There will be improved coordination and joint working between children's services and health services via a new information sharing mechanism.
  • We will see an increase in families giving their views, widening input to  service improvements.

5: Better supporting mainstream schools to be inclusive and support their pupils with SEND to thrive

  • Supporting and enabling settings to meet the needs of children with SEND.
  • Providing early support to professionals working with SEND and ensuring identification of needs.
  • Ensuring that all families understand the support offer available to them and know how to access it.

How will we know we've succeeded?

  • 70% of schools will have attended Valuing SEND training by end of summer term 23, and 75% by December 23.
  • 50% of schools who have completed their training will have completed their 'setting readiness' score by August 23, and 60% by December 23
  • There will be a training and 'setting readiness' plan in place for private, voluntary and independent settings and colleges for academic year 23/24.
  • 25% of all Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments will include a Valuing SEND 'radar' by April 24.
  • The Ask SALI team will be in place and operating to 100% capacity to support mainstream settings.
  • Reporting processes will be in place to measure impact, and school and family confidence.
  • We will see a reduction of appeals against decisions not to provide an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment.
  • A 'Directory of tools' will be available to all stakeholders, with a clear explanation of how and when to use them.
  • The SEND Toolkit will be relaunched to schools.

6: Delivering on our Statutory SEND duties with more consistency

  • Meeting statutory indicators for EHCP assessments.
  • Improving the quality of experience for parents, carers, schools and young people.
  • Meeting timeframes for Annual Reviews.
  • Ensuring full time, quality assured, broad and balanced provision for all CYP with EHCP’s.

How will we know we've succeeded?

  • We will see an increase in the percentage of final EHCPs issued within timescales.
  • We will see a decrease in complaints and other representations from parents.
  • We will see increased satisfaction ratings through the email signature survey and through “end of assessment” surveys. 
  • We will see an increase in the percentage of final plans issued within 12 weeks.
  • There will be an increase in the percentage of schools completing reviews through the annual reviews online system.
  • There will be a reduction in number of CME with EHCPs.

7: Enabling access to provision for children and young people in Hertfordshire, across our mainstream and specialist settings, at the right time

View it all here:

Increasing special school places

How will we know we've succeeded?

  • 100 new severe learning disability places will be created to serve the west of the county, with children formally offered a place.
  • 100 additional severe learning disanility places will be created to serve the east of county, with children formally offered a place.
  • 100 additional severe learning disability places will be created to serve north of county, with children formally offered a place.
  • There will be a reduction in the number of pupils awaiting a severe learning disability place, through increased early intervention at early years.
  • The school re-build on existing site will provide 25 additional learning disability places, with children formally offered a place. 
  • For Enlargement Proposals only - a minimum of 1 class of 7 – 10 pupils per each sector identified and in the area of need, with children formally offered a place.
  • A clear pathway will be identified for all children on the immediate referral list.
  • There will be a new 60 place secondary communication and autism special school, with children formally offered a place.
  • There will be a new 60 place primary communication and autism special school, with children formally offered a place.
  • There will be 4 secondary specialist resource provisions each offering 20 places, with children formally offered a place.
  • There will be 9 primary specialist resource provisions, each offering 12 places, with children formally offered a place.
  • The strategy will be adopted with new priorities identified.

8: Working with young people and families to be prepared for adulthood

  • Improving the destination rates of young people identified to be at risk of not progressing into learning, and helping those without a destination to re-engage.
  • Working with employers and further education organisations to support young people with SEND to get into employment.
  • Creating more Short Breaks which have a focus on developing independent living skills and are provided by adult social care providers.
  • Increasing the number of young people going to their annual health checks

How will we know we've succeeded?

  • There will be an increase in the 'in learning rate' for those in Yr 12 and 13 with an EHCP.
  • We will see a reduction in the 'lost contact rate' for those with an EHCP in Yr 12 and 13.
  • We will see an increase in the number of young people aged 18 - 25 with SEND in employment.
  • We will see an increase in the number of young people with an EHCP who complete a supported internship.
  • There will be an increase the number of young people who report they have a social life and feel part of their community.
  • There will be an increase in the number of eligible young people attending their annual health check from the age of 14.

9: Enabling access to a range of alternative provision at the right time

  • Improve oversight and engagement with health services for Children and Young People in Alternative Provision.
  • Improve the quality and oversight of Alternative Provision commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council, including framework provision.
  • Update ESCs' offer via new service level agreements.
  • Develop more bespoke environments / provision to meet the needs of children and young people with multi-layered needs / assessed as SLD / PMLD / Tier 4.
  • Encourage schools to improve the quality of the AP they commission by developing a guide highlighting good practice.
  • Improve outcomes and voice for children and young people accessing AP and their families.

How will we know we've succeeded?


  • We will see an increase in health oversight, clarity around follow-up and engagement for children in alternative provision.
  • There will be improved oversight and quality assurance of unregistered provision commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council.
  • We will have new ESC service level agreement in place.
  • There will be better access to appropriate provision for children and young people with multi layered needs.  
  • There will be swifter access to services to meet the needs of the whole family via a greater focus on holistic support and more joined-up working.
  • We will see evidence of improved learning and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people. 
  • We will see evidence of improved levels of feedback and involvement in co-production with input to the offer.

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