As Sussex and Surrey health merge, what does this mean for SEND?
We asked Toby Silverman, SEND Improvement Manager for NHS Surrey and Sussex, to explain what the merger of local health services means for families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
“As part of wider NHS reforms, NHS Surrey and Sussex have merged and are working together to develop a more joined-up approach across the region. Although there are changes taking place within NHS organisations, support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) remains a key priority, and work is continuing across health, education and local authority partners to improve services and support for families.
“A key focus over the last year has been improving “support whilst waiting” for children and young people who are waiting for assessments or specialist services. CAMHS waiting times for initial assessments have improved significantly, and additional support is being developed across Child Development Centres, schools and community services. This includes workshops, drop-ins, online resources and practical guidance for families and schools. The NHS Surrey and Sussex SEND hub will continue to be updated with helpful information and updates (the information on the linked page will redirect to a new page soon).
“We have also been working with parents, carers and young people to co-design new neurodevelopmental (ND) support information and toolkits, helping families find the right support earlier and more easily. New online information has been developed across Sussex to provide clearer guidance around ADHD, autism, mental health and SEND support, including advice on what support is available while waiting for assessments. See ADHD and autism signposting for children and young people, and their families and carers
“Alongside this, health and education partners continue to work together to improve inclusion and support in schools. This includes expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in schools, strengthening health input into EHCPs and supporting neuro-inclusive practice through the PINS programme. Schools showed the strongest improvement in Leadership, Culture, Values and Parental Co-production, with neurodiversity increasingly embedded as a strategic priority. Positive developments included more inclusive leadership approaches, stronger partnership working with parents and carers, and improved alignment between schools and families. More information on PINS can be found here: Sussex schools making a difference for neurodivergent children
“We remain committed to working in co-production with families, schools, local authorities, NHS providers and the voluntary sector to help shape future services and ensure they reflect the experiences and needs of children, young people and families across Surrey and Sussex. Over the coming months, we will continue to share updates, new resources and support information as this work develops.”
Toby Silverman, SEND Improvement Manager, NHS Surrey and Sussex
