SEND Improvement Board Independent Chair's Update from Kathryn Boulton 13 April 2026

Introduction

Hello and welcome to my Chair's Update, as Independent Chair of the Lancashire SEND Improvement Board.

The SEND Partnership Improvement Board met in April to review progress against the Priority Action Plan, consider current pressures across the system, and assure itself that the right issues are being escalated and addressed.

Overall, the Board recognises that good progress continues to be made, particularly given the scale and complexity of the challenges facing the local SEND system. Around four in five milestones in the Priority Action Plan are now completed or on track, and where progress is slower, these issues are being actively managed through the SEND Operations Board with clear mitigations in place.

Strengthened governance and focus on assurance

This meeting marked the first use of a revised agenda following the recent governance review. The Board was clear that its role is to provide challenge, assurance and accountability, with detailed operational work led through workstreams and the Operations Board. Members felt the revised approach supported more focused and productive discussion and helped the Board concentrate on the most significant risks and issues affecting children, young people and families.

The Board was reassured that all actions from the previous meeting were either completed or on track, with no actions requiring escalation.

SEND service pressures and system response

The Board discussed ongoing pressures within the SEND system, particularly around communication with families, EHCP timeliness, and workforce capacity. These themes were well evidenced through parent carer feedback, complaints and case studies.

Members welcomed the implementation of the new SEND service structure from 1 April, which is already reducing individual caseloads and moving to a more relational, locality-based way of working. The Board agreed that this structural change is essential to improving

families’ day-to-day experience but stressed that its impact must be closely monitored to ensure improvements are sustained.

SEND reform planning

The Board received an update on progress with the SEND Reform Plan, noting the significant engagement already undertaken with schools, colleges, families and partners. Further engagement is planned with children and young people, health providers, the voluntary and community sector, and early help services.

A SEND Development Day in May will be a key opportunity to test and strengthen the draft plan and develop a clear theory of change. While recognising the challenge of working without full national guidance or confirmed funding, the Board felt the approach being taken was pragmatic and proportionate, with financial input already shaping assumptions. Members were clear that the plan will need further refinement once national details are confirmed.

Performance, EHCPs and learning from complaints

The Board acknowledged improvements in EHCP timeliness during the current month, alongside a reduction in the longest waits, although performance remains below national expectations. Annual Reviews continue to be an area of pressure due to rising volumes, and the Board agreed this must remain a key focus.

Learning from complaints continues to show that poor communication, rather than disagreement with decisions, is the main driver of dissatisfaction and escalation. Members were reassured that recent workforce expansion and structural changes should lead to improvement over the coming months but emphasised that families must start to feel and see the difference.

Health advice delays were recognised as a significant system risk, largely driven by workforce pressures. The risk has been escalated appropriately, with mitigation in place, and the Board asked for partnership-wide solutions to be developed and brought back for assurance.

Neurodevelopmental (ND) pathways

The Board discussed ongoing, unacceptably long waits for ND assessments. Members acknowledged that while waiting times remain too long, there is now a stronger grip on risk, better visibility of waiting lists, and improved support for families while they wait. Over 600 children and young people waiting more than 52 weeks have now been contacted, with positive feedback on interim support offers.

Parent Carer Forum asked whether food difficulties were more prevalent in areas without a recognised ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) pathway, seeking assurance that this gap is being addressed consistently across the county. The Board welcomed progress on commissioning intentions, shared care arrangements, and local support hubs but challenged whether all referrals are always appropriate and whether education-led needs are being routed through the right pathways. Further analysis has been requested to ensure the system is responding in the right way.

Communication and co-production

Communication was recognised as a cross-cutting weakness affecting trust, complaints and escalation across the system. While several actions are underway, including a draft communication protocol, work on the Local Offer, and refreshed participation strategies, the Board was clear that impact must now be demonstrable, particularly for families and schools.

POWAR SEND youth forum

Members welcomed progress from POWAR (children and young people’s participation), including plans for a Take Over Day later in the year and a stronger focus on inclusive, accessible language. Communication will remain a standing focus for future meetings.

Lancashire Parent Carer Forum (LPCF)

The Parent Carer Forum reported that they had formally escalated concerns about communication processes at the SEND Operations Board, which were then escalated further to the Improvement Board. These concerns reflected ongoing difficulties families experience when trying to contact caseworkers, understand processes, and receive timely, consistent information. Through their feedback and challenge, LPCF reinforced that poor communication is a recurring, system-wide issue, contributing to complaints, loss of trust, mediation and escalation. This echoed learning from complaints and family case studies discussed earlier in the meeting.

Preparation for adulthood

The Board noted steady progress in strengthening Preparation for Adulthood at a strategic level, including improved transition guidance and better alignment with SEND Reform planning. However, members agreed that practical guidance needs to be clearer and more visible for both families and professionals.

Risks and looking ahead

The Board reviewed the system risk register and agreed that existing risks remain valid. Emerging risks linked to Local Government Reorganisation were noted and will be added once further clarity is available.

In closing, I would like to thank partners for their openness, constructive challenge and continued commitment. Progress is being made, but the Board remains clear that

improvement must translate into better, more consistent experiences for children, young people and their families. This will continue to be our central focus.

Communication

Across the meeting, LPCF played an active role in constructive challenge, ensuring family voice informed discussions on communication, ND waiting times, and partnership accountability. Their input directly shaped agreed actions to address the issues and Board expectations for demonstrable improvement. This echoed learning from complaints and family case studies discussed earlier in the meeting.

The next meeting of the Board will take place on 7 May 2026.

The Independent Chair's update will be written after each board meeting and published on the SEND Improvement Board webpage within 1-2 weeks, before being shared on social media. Formal minutes of the meeting will be written and published after they have been approved at the next board meeting.

A full communications strategy and delivery plan has been published on the Local Offer Lancashire SEND Partnership Communication and Engagement Strategy 2025–2028, which focuses on the principles of participation and co-production through The Lundy model and Four Cornerstones Model of co-production. Feedback mechanisms for children and young people are being developed by our Strategic Lead for Participation and Co-production.

If you are a parent carer and have any thoughts or comments, please contact the parent carer forum Lancashire Parent Carer Forum by emailing secretarylpcf@lancashireparentcarerforum.org.uk

If you have a child / young person interested in POWAR participation group please contact Suliman Hussain at Suliman.hussain@lancashire.gov.uk

If you are a partner, please do feedback through your organisation. Also don’t forget to sign up to our SEND Newsletter if you’re not already receiving it.