This guidance document has been compiled by Association of Colleges, Natspec, practitioners from colleges and local authorities and the DfE. The SEND Reforms have posed considerable challenges to the post 16 sector both for colleges and local authorities and for some time providers have been requesting clearer guidelines on how they might work better together.
This guidance includes:
- a summary of college and local authorities legal duties
- some guiding principles which need to underpin collaboration between colleges and local authorities
- a brief overview of the post 16 educational landscape and the significant differences between college and school provision
- a brief overview of the structure and constraints of local authorities
- some examples of positive relationships which have been made between colleges and local authorities
It is not expected that the guidance will provide solutions to all the numerous questions which arise when local authorities and colleges work together in organising provision for individual young people with EHC plans. However, it is hoped it will provide a baseline from which fruitful negotiations can begin to take place.