Newsletters
Our Regional Improvement Plan can be found here
If you would like to apply to be a SESLIP consultant, please follow this link to Kent Business Portal – KentBusinessPortal and after registering on the portal, search for Ref – SC240046 – SESLIP – DPS – V2
Updates
White paper published
On 23 February DfE published Every Child Achieving and Thriving
Headlines
DfE says, “We aim to achieve this by:
- shifting children’s school experience from narrow to broad
- ensuring those who have been sidelined are included
- taking children and communities from withdrawn to engaging with schools”
The ‘6,500 additional teachers delivery plan’ sets out our plans to recruit 6,500 more teachers and is intended to be read alongside ‘Every child achieving and thriving’.
We have also written shorter, simpler documents that summarise the schools white paper and SEND consultation for parents and those working in the sector.
Consultation on Foster Care reform now open. CLOSES 17 March 11.59pm
On 4 February DfE opened a consultation on Foster care reform: proposed changes to assessment and handling of allegations of abuse
Headlines
This consultation supports the governments policy paper Renewing fostering: homes for 10,000 more children
Responses are being collected here
Responses from children and young people are being collected here
SE19 SEND Inclusion Summit Friday 20 March NOW BOOKING
On Friday 20 March, we will be hosting a regional SEND Inclusion Summit
The event runs from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Details
For more information or help in booking your place at the summit please email sonia.dayal@sdsa.net
Consultation on KCSIE 2026 now open. CLOSES 22 April 11.59pm
On 12 February DfE opened a consultation on the 2026 annual updating of KCSIE
Headlines
The DfE is seeking views on proposed changes to the statutory guidance Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE).
We’re seeking views on a range of updates to ensure the guidance remains current and relevant.
Consultation on Adoption support now open. CLOSES 5 May 11.59pm
On 10 February DfE opened a consultation on Adoption support that works for all – Reimagining adoption and kinship support: making it fit for the future
Headlines
The DfE is seeking views that relate to reforming the system of adoption support, including the operation of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.
Responses are being collected here
Responses from children and young people are being collected here
Consultation on SEND reform now open. CLOSES 18 May 11.59pm
On 23 February DfE opened a consultation on SEND reform: putting children and young people first
SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First (pdf, 132 pages)
Headlines
This consultation supports the governments white paper Every child achieving and thriving which outlines the reforms to the schools and SEND system in England.
Responses are bring collected here
- SEND Reform: putting children and young people first (CYP version)220.4 KB (PDF document)
- SEND Reform: putting children and young people first (Easy Read)5.1 MB (PDF document)
International Comparitive Review of SEND Policy
In November 2025 CES published an International Comparative Review of SEND Policy
Headlines
- SEND identification is rising around the world, and many jurisdictions are facing growing funding pressures.
- All jurisdictions aspire to educate more of their students with SEND within mainstream settings. However, an increasing proportion of students with SEND are educated outside of mainstream settings.
- Finite public budgets drive a need for funding prioritisation.
- Early selection and tracking can be a barrier to inclusion.
- Devolved systems can allow for local tailoring and greater responsiveness, but can also lead to inconsistency and inequity.
Reminders From Previous Weeks
SESLIP Targeted Support
The SESLIP Targeted Support scheme is now open to enquiries from children’s services authorities in the south east.
This project is funded by the DfE’s RIIA grant and is open to both CSC and SEND.
Details
The prospectus introduces our dedicated Targeted Support Core Team, which includes experienced, ex-local authority leaders, who have worked at director, assistant director and principal programme manager levels,
The core team’s practice is enhanced by collaboration with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from across the full range of children’s services.
A bespoke package will be agreed at scoping stage.
For more information, or to become involved as a subject matter expert, contact Claire@clairewoodcockconsulting.com
Regional Improvement Plan 2025-26
On 18 July 2025 SESLIP published our regional improvement plan for 2025-26
Headlines
The new regional improvement plan has 47 projects and a budget of just under £2m.
The plan incorporates our delivery plan for DfE’s RIIA grant of £1.6m to SESLIP for the current year
Tools & Templates
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (July 2025)
On 4 February DfE opened a consultation on Foster care reform: proposed changes to assessment and handling of allegations of abuse
On 21 January the Ofsted, CQC, HMIFRS and HMIProbation published a review of recent JTAI reports on children who are victims of domestic abuse
On 16 January the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons published its report Financial sustainability of children’s homes
On January 15 DfE published data reported by local authorities on children of compulsory school age in elective home education (EHE) in England.
On 13 January Foundations (What Works Centre for Children and Families) published Parenting through adversity: parents of children and young people aged 11-18
On 11 January the Children’s Commissioner published Children living in illegal children’s home
On 31 December Coram published From Surviving to Thriving key findings and recommendations from Coram Voice’s Bright Spots programme
On 26 November DfE published annual statistics for Fostering 2024-2025
On 26 November DfE published annual statistics for Children looked after in England including adoptions 2024-2025
On 24 November NSPCC published Tipping point: tackling the challenges in safeguarding children educated at home
On 24 November AEPA published Belonging and Excellence: The importance of local education partnerships.
On 20 November, Home+Future, the South East RCC, published the region’s Sufficiency Statement 2026: Building positive futures
On 14 November CCN published SEND in England: how we got to crisis point and why we need reform of the system
On 11 November the Children’s Commissioner published Children on custodial demand
On 11 November Rees Centre published Success – whose definition counts? A co-designed framework by and for young people leaving care
On 10 November, the National Centre for Family Hubs published a case study from the Isle of Wight
On 5 November Centre for Young Lives published Best Start: A Fresh Start for
Children and Family Support
Part 2 Report
On 5 November DfE and DHSC launched an independent review of social work regulation
On 30 October Contact published a policy briefing How Continuing Care for Children fails those with the most complex health needs (England).
On 30 October DfE published the annual Children in need statistics for the year to 31 March 2025.
On 28 October DfE published Academic year 2024/25 Home to school transport: LA data collection
On 22 October MoJ published Presumption of parental involvement review: final report
On 20 October DfE published the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper
On 20 October ONS published Suicides in children and young people across the academic year, England: September 2011 to August 2022
On 20 October The Children’s Commissioner published The Children’s Plan: Vision for Care