Brief for Regional Hubs of Effective Practice in SEN 2008 - 2010

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The role of Hubs as part of the National Strategies SEN programme for 2008 / 10 is as follows:

• To embed national policies, programmes and initiatives with fidelity and consistency in different LA settings across the country - all Hubs will run the same programme apart from the regional strands of work.
• For the coordinating Hub LA to demonstrate this application and support other LAs in the region to do this.
• To provide powerful channels of feedback to the DCSF on the efficacy and impact of policies and programmes through ensuring consistency of approach and development firmly set within an LA context.
• To coordinate a regional strand which will develop local or regionally based initiatives. This will be fed back nationally and some of these strands will have the potential to inform and drive national programmes.
• To promote effective regional collaboration and co-ordination of services including scope for collaboration with regional interests beyond LAs - voluntary organisations, health, special schools and others.

Priorities

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Local Authority (LA) Hubs of effective practice in SEN are an important element in the Government's strategy to improve outcomes for children with SEN and disabilities.

• The dissemination and embedding of approaches set down in the Inclusion Development Programme in LA support, challenge and advice to schools hubs will have a major role in supporting local implementation and evaluating impact.
  
• The application of the recently published DCSF Planning and Developing Special Educational Provision guidance including its application alongside the new guidance on the Education of Children and Young People Experiencing Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties as a Special Educational Need. The aim will be to ensure that all LAs have robust plans to support the development of a flexible range of provision to meet needs.
  
• The development of the role of combined School Improvement and SEN Consultants to support the development, dissemination and embedding of guidance and practice with a particular focus on narrowing attainment gaps. This will include focus on progression and the dissemination/use of the planned Audit Commission Value for Money Toolkit for Schools forthcoming guidance on what constitutes good progress for children and young people with SEN.
  
• In addition to the above, there is a regional strand that will be determined by the Hub LA in consultation with other LAs in the region and the link NS SEN Adviser for the Hub. This may include the carrying forward of some Innovations Projects or existing Partnership network activities where these are still considered by participant LAs to be a priority. The South West SEN Conference selected Statutory Processes and parental confidence as the regional strand.

• A clear commission has been drawn up by DCSF/NS SEN Advisers for each Hub. Apart from the regional work strand, the commission will be consistent for all Hubs. 
• A named LA officer (Michèle Rose) is accountable for the commission with lead officers reporting.
• The regional Senior NS SEN Adviser (Steve Huggett) is the departmental contact for the commission for the South West. 
• There will be regular and transparent feedback from the Hub LA and the Senior NS SEN Adviser to the DCSF where any implications of future programme development could be examined.
• The period of the commission will be for two years with a mid term evaluation/break in the contract if necessary.
• There will be a regional consultative group of LAs chaired by the Hub LA with support from the Senior NS SEN Adviser.
• There will also be a national group chaired by DCSF/NS to which each Hub would send a representative.
• The brief for both regional and national consultative groups will be to coordinate feedback of the processes and outcomes of the Hubs.