Guest SEND outcomes blog: Rupert Lawler at Cornwall Council

Guest blog written by Rupert Lawler, SEND Innovation and Communications Manager at Cornwall Council

In Cornwall our aspiration is that Valuing SEND is used in a genuinely collaborative way between the local authority and schools, for the benefit of children, young people and their families. We continue to provide ongoing training and support to schools and in doing so promote what we see as some of the ‘unique selling points’ of the Valuing SEND tool.

During the trial it was clear that Valuing SEND promotes the use of a common language around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) between schools, professionals and parents/carers.

• In turn, the radar chart acts as a conversation starter and facilitates rich discussion, which engages children, young people and their parents/carers.
• Additionally, transition from one school to another can be a challenging time, particularly for those learners with SEND and we believe the tool can ensure that no stone is left unturned, meaning that transitions for individuals are well planned and strong foundations are established at a crucial time in their educational journey.
• In addition to these benefits, we have also discussed with schools how the aggregated data can support Multi Academy Trusts and wider school networks to identify areas of strength, as well as areas where additional focus and/or training is required. This can help larger networks of schools develop consistency across their SEND offer, as well as plan strategically for the future. Similarly, the local authority can use macro aggregated data to identify geographical trends and ensure that local provision is sufficient to meet local need.

We continue to work closely with our partners in schools and aim to develop a shared vision for Valuing SEND and a collective responsibility for successfully establishing the Valuing SEND tool within Cornwall. An example of this work in action can be seen in an ‘Outcomes Spotlight‘ on Tracey Foster, SENDco at Trenode Church of England Primary Academy in Cornwall.