UPDATE NO 469 03 September 2021

SESLIP Memorandum of Understanding 2021-2022

The Memorandum of Understanding which underpins our regional work has been revised and updated to reflect the requirements of the DfE’s Regional Recovery and Building Back Better Fund.

We are now asking each partner to arrange for the Memorandum pdf version or word version to be signed and returned to us, after which they will be posted here. Thanks to Portsmouth for returning the first one.

DfE invites applications for its SLIP (SEND) programme

The DfE has issued an invitation to bid for LAs interested in becoming Sector-Led Improvement Partners for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).

The invitation is restricted: you cannot have a ‘written statement of action’ from SEND1 (unless it was completely cleared by SEND2); nor be ILACS Inadequate; nor be part of the DfE Safety Valve programme, nor have a DSG deficit of 1% or higher at the time of bidding or at any point during the grant funded period.

The bidding process is the same as the SLIP process successfully undertaken by Hampshire earlier this year, and Alison Smailes has offered to share her experience with anyone contemplating a bid.

The deadline for bids is 1 November 2021, and any grant awarded will run from Jan 2022 to March 2023 with an option to extend for a further year.  

Data Accelerator Fund supports two projects in the South East

On 3 September 2021, MHCLG announced the award of £1.2m to two projects in the South East from the Data Accelerator Fund.

They are: £280k to an East Sussex-led consortium investigating better and more useful data for Early Help services; and £915k to Reading, Wokingham, West Berkshire and Portsmouth.

Early Help Network

Next month will see the first meeting for the SESLIP Early Help Network. Many thanks to Sarah Gee (Assistant Director, Early Help and Communities at Bracknell Forest) for providing the initial energy for this network, and to Grainne Siggins (DCS Bracknell Forest) for agreeing to sponsor this group.

Rebecca Eligon (contact details below) will be convening the group, and many thanks to all who have helped identify the Early Help Leads in each authority. Please let us know if there any changes to the list.

Future dates for network meetings

Lead Members Group: Friday 8 October 9.30- 12.30. Expert Workshop #3: Understanding adolescents and the challenges and risks faced supporting and safeguarding complex young people. More information from Alison Michalska (contact details below)

Data Benchmarking: Tuesday 14 September 2021. More information from Alastair Lee (contact details below)

Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board: Tuesday 12 October 2021. More information from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

AD Education: Friday 17 September – 10.00am. More information from Chris Owen (contact details below)

AD Safeguarding: Friday 10 September 2021. More information from Mark Evans (contact details below)

QA Network: Friday 10 September 2021. 2pm – 5pm. More information from Amanda Meadows (contact details below)

Fostering Network: 10.30am Monday 4 October 2021. More information from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

SEND SE19: Preparing for Adulthood Forum 21 September 2021 13:30 – 15:30 More information from Tracey Maytas (contact details below)

Domestic Abuse Intervention: Home Office Projects announced

Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex Police and Crime Commissioners have each been awarded project funds by the Home Office to go towards domestic abuse intervention programmes.

For more detail of the projects awarded, consult the press announcement

Regional Improvement Plan 2021-2022

A revised Regional Improvement Plan for 2021-2022 has been published.

It contains 35 workstreams and sets out plans to invest £2.7m in improvement projects, subject to DfE approval of our funding application.

Regional Recovery and Building Back Better Fund

On 13 August, we submitted a response to the DfE’s invitation to apply to the Regional Recovery and Building Back Better Fund. The application is for £2.4m spread across 24 projects.

Many thanks to all who contributed to this bid, which will now be considered by the DfE. Announcements are expected in September.