28 February 2025 weekly update

Dear Colleagues

Schools Update

Thank you to the many that attended the four recent Local Provision Area meetings. The agenda focused on the current numbers of special school and SRP places in the local area, what the needs may be moving forward and how mainstream and special schools can better work together to meet need. The role of the Communities if Schools Area Boards was also discussed. We have had some very positive feedback and it’s good to know that these were helpful and well received.

This week was the first meeting of all the new Chairs of School Communities where proposals were discussed providing an opportunity for practitioners to shape the final plan. Letters will be coming out to schools and MATs in the near future with an update.

The spring term Headteacher Briefing Events start on Monday morning with the first taking place at Ashford International Hotel. I am really looking forward to these meetings as for the first time, school colleagues will be showcasing their work and it will be a great opportunity to share practice.

Committees and meetings

The Children, Young People and Families Cabinet Committee took place on Thursday with a number of reports agreed including

• Risk Management: Children, Young People and Education (Pages 77 - 88)
• Admission Arrangements and Scheme for 2026-27 Academic Year
• Therapies – Recommissioning of SEN Therapy provision to enable access to the Education Curriculum
• Raising Ambition. Enabling Curiosity. Building Resilience. A Strategy for the Future of Education in Kent and
• The SACRE Annual Report 2023/24 (Pages 283 - 296)

The reports can be seen in full here https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgChooseDocPack.aspx?ID=9500

Today the Children’s Services leadership team met with Ofsted colleagues for our annual conversation about Kent’s data. It was a really interesting and challenging discussion.

Have a great weekend, best wishes

Christine McInnes
Director of Education