The SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme is a national program designed to test a number of policy changes to systems and processes for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those accessing Alternative Provision (AP) in the United Kingdom.

The Change Programme is being delivered by Change Programme Partnerships in each of the nine regions of England. Each Change Programme Partnerships consist of selected local authorities and integrated care systems working alongside families, each one being led by at least one named local authority.

For our region, the Change Programme Partnership consists of Shropshire Council, Telford and Wrekin Council, NHS Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System (ICS), Herefordshire and Worcestershire Councils and Hereford and Worcestershire ICS, with Telford and Wrekin Council being the named lead local authority.

The programme aims to strengthen Local Area SEND Partnerships, develop Local Area Inclusion Plans, pilot changes to Education, Health and Care Plans including strengthening multi-agency panels, trialling new EHCP templates, strengthening mediation and trialling advisory tailored lists, as well as moving towards the digitisation of EHCPs. The programme also aims to enhance Alternative Provisions including the multiagency workforce around AP and develop National Standards of expectations for schools and settings to support children and young people with SEND.

Our Change Programme Partnership will collaborate on creating Local Area Inclusion Plans, EHCP reform alongside addressing Alternative Provision. Further to this, our regions Change Programme Partnership have been successful in being selected as the site in the West Midlands to roll out the Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) programme. This programme will aim to provide earlier identification and support to children and young people with SEND across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin and provide direct support to selected primary schools and early years settings across the region.