Bromley’s work around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) was one of the key areas in the spotlight during a visit to Bromley by Vicky Ford MP, new Minister for Children and Families.
The visit, hosted by Cllr Peter Fortune, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Children, Education and Families, was an opportunity to showcase the council‘s SEND services, as well as visit some of the Bromley teams responsible for keeping the borough’s children safe.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families heard about the importance of engaging with parents, sharing ideas and co-producing services as well as how vital it is to forge positive links with schools. Of particular interest was the significant emphasis placed on early years support through the borough’s children’s centres, recently described as the jewel in Bromley’s crown by Ofsted. The minister was particularly interested in a comprehensive book of early years’ services run by the council and the impact these have in nipping potential problems in the bud.
A strong partnership message was evident both in SEND through joint commissioning with health and ably demonstrated by the work of Bromley’s Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) which brings together different organisations to deliver focused services to young people and their families.
Councillor Fortune, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Children, Education and Families said: “I am delighted the minister was able to pay a visit to Bromley to see for herself the incredible progress we have made in Children’s Services and SEND. But we don’t stop here, but rather continue to drive our journey to excellence and, as the team told the minister, we are not scared of the challenges; we remain ambitious for the futures for all our children.”
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