Towards an Effective & Sustainable Approach to SEND: Our Response

Towards an Effective & Sustainable Approach to SEND: Our Response

31 July 2024|AI Adoption, Emerging Technology, SEND, Workforce

A recent report on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services has sparked intense debate in the SEND community. While the report highlights very real financial pressures faced by Local Authorities, some of its more radical proposals - such as eliminating the SEND Tribunal - have understandably raised concerns about protecting the rights of children with SEND.

At Outcomes Matter, we believe the core issues of overwhelming demand, insufficient funding, and procedural inefficiencies in SEND services urgently need addressing. However, we also recognise that any solutions must prioritise the needs of children and families. This is where we believe EHCP+ Innovations can play a crucial role.

EHCP+ Innovations: Enhancing Efficiency While Maintaining Rights and Improving Outcomes

EHCP+ Innovations is our AI-powered tool designed to streamline the creation of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). By automating the initial drafting process, EHCP+ Innovations allows SEND professionals to dedicate more time to meaningful interactions with children and families - the heart of effective SEND support.

Importantly, EHCP+ Innovations is not about replacing human expertise or decision-making. Rather, it's about enhancing the capabilities of SEND teams to produce high-quality, consistent EHCPs more efficiently. In one of our early pilots with Essex County Council, we demonstrated that EHCP+ Innovations could save around 5 hours per plan while also improving overall quality.

Key benefits of EHCP+ Innovations include:

1. Reduced administrative burden, freeing up time for caseworkers for more meaningful tasks,
2. Improved consistency and quality in EHCP drafting,
3. Potential to reduce complaints and appeals through clearer needs identification,
4. Cost savings for Local Authorities without compromising support.

A Collaborative Approach

We developed EHCP+ Innovations in close partnership with SEND practitioners and the wider SEND workforce, ensuring the tool addresses real-world needs. This collaborative approach extends to how we envision EHCP+ Innovations being implemented - as part of a holistic strategy to improve SEND services, not as a standalone solution.

Looking Forward

While EHCP+ Innovations cannot solve all the challenges facing SEND services, we believe it offers an immediate, cost effective, practical step towards delivering a more sustainable and effective system. By streamlining processes and improving quality, EHCP+ Innovations can help Local Authorities better manage their resources while still prioritising the needs of children and families.

As the SEND community continues to debate the best path forward, at Outcomes Matter we remain committed to providing innovative tools that support, rather than replace, the vital work of SEND professionals.

We welcome further dialogue with all stakeholders on EHCP+ Innovations and beyond, as we work towards our shared goal of improving outcomes for children with SEND.

In doing so, we must also ensure that important steps like the SEND Tribunal remain in place to protect the rights of children and families, supporting a fair system for all.

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