< Previous | Contents | Next >

Improving Our Schools: Responses to the Riddell Report

B: National SEN Advisory Forum

The first recommendation of the Riddell Report was that the Scottish Executive should establish a National SEN Advisory Forum. This was accepted by Ministers and announced as part of their initial response to the report. The announcement was welcomed widely and the Forum has met already on two occasions under the chairmanship of Peter Peacock, Deputy Minister for Children and Education. Membership of the Forum was drawn from over 50 nominations received from individuals and organisations and is listed at Annex B.

Many respondents proposed specific issues for inclusion in the Forum's remit, for example, monitoring of national pattern of provision, effectiveness of inter-authority arrangements, review of therapy services, standards, etc. Scottish Ministers have agreed that the original draft remit should be retained to allow the Forum to focus on wider strategy and policy issues but not preclude examination of some of the specific topics which were suggested in responses to the consultation.

Remit

The Forum's remit is set out below:

• To advise Scottish Ministers on the development and implementation of policies to improve standards of provision for special educational needs and their consistent application throughout Scotland;
• To monitor the implications, for provision of special educational needs, of national policies for improving standards and promoting social inclusion in schools;
• To review progress in the development of approaches for the inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream provision; and
• To keep Scottish Ministers and other interested parties informed of best practice in provision for special educational needs.

Priorities

At its first meeting on 28 March the Forum agreed that its initial priority would be an examination of the Records of Needs process. A second meeting on 6 June agreed a draft work programme for the remainder of this year which included inter-agency working; disability discrimination rights of appeal; and specialist qualifications for teachers. The Forum's work programme will be extended for years 2 and 3 and will take account of the findings of the SEN enquiry being undertaken by the Scottish Parliament's Education Culture and Sport Committee which will report later this year.

Method of operation

The forum will have an initial life of three years and will meet at least twice per year. Information on its work will be posted on an Advisory Forum web-site. Details of how to send views on SEN issues for the Forum.

< Previous | Contents | Next >