Board reports steady progress
The latest update from Birmingham’s SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Board has outlined steady progress across services supporting children and young people with special educational needs, marking another step forward for one of the West Midlands’ largest education and care systems.
The December meeting introduced Sally Rowe as the new Interim Independent Chair, arriving shortly after inspectors confirmed an improved outcome for the city. Representatives from schools, health partners, Birmingham City Council and parent carer groups joined to assess progress and priorities for the months ahead.
Frontline support strengthened
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust shared encouraging developments in frontline therapy support across schools and early years settings. Initiatives such as Sensory Circuits, Spill the Tea sessions and strengthened multi-agency planning have received positive feedback from families. Targeted programmes including Fun with Food and Ready Steady Reception are also producing early improvements, helping children access consistent speech and occupational therapy support.
The alignment between health and education teams – a long-standing challenge in Birmingham – is now improving, giving families clearer, more reliable pathways.
Improvement plan making headway
The Board confirmed that more actions within the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan have been completed since September, with updated inspection priority areas now publicly available on the Local Offer. A full comparison report is expected in March 2026.
Under the Right Time, Right Place programme, the city has finalised its all-age mental health specification, completed the neurodevelopmental redesign phase and strengthened EHCP quality assurance. Early years participation is rising and the Brokerage service continues to secure appropriate placements more quickly. Next steps will focus on reducing waiting times and improving the quality and consistency of Education, Health and Care Plans.
Engagement and Communications work continues to progress, with better data quality, stronger relationships between children’s and adults’ services, and website engagement surpassing targets. Education and Safeguarding has also seen improvements, with effective School Improvement Boards, new specialist roles and stronger SEND alignment contributing to better phonics outcomes, GCSE performance, attendance and reduced waits for specialist placements.
Independent Living work is progressing steadily, supported by improved audits, enhanced youth engagement and the launch of the SEND Employment Forum. Alternative Provision reforms are moving forward through consultation, improved medical needs pathways and increased staffing.
EHCP quality under detailed review
A deep dive into EHCP quality, led by Birmingham City Council, reported tangible improvements driven by monthly audits of more than 110 plans, better health partner contributions and improved feedback loops. New roles such as the Designated Social Care Officer have helped reduce the number of plans with significant gaps and strengthened the city’s position in tribunal cases.
Challenges remain – including operational consistency, variable health input and capacity pressures – but recent SEND training for new resident doctors has already prompted positive feedback and higher confidence across teams.
£700k boost to parent engagement
In a significant investment for the region, Birmingham has secured £700,000 from the Department for Education’s SEND Intervention Support Fund. The Working Together Programme will expand co-production between schools and families, delivered in partnership with the Birmingham Parent Carer Forum.
New activity will include parent peer groups, community events, Working Together agreements and support from Programme Connectors with lived experience of SEND. Progress will be tracked through weekly Task and Finish Groups and a monthly Steering Group, with success measured by levels of trust, inclusion and parental participation.
The next update is expected early in the new year, as Birmingham continues work to strengthen SEND services across the city and maintain momentum in a critical area of support for young people and families in the West Midlands.
