Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Children & Young People

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/271

Contact: Clare Hanchet, Manager – SEND Strategic Early Intervention Team (Clare.Hanchet@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Director of Children’s Services (CMDCEYP5).

Returning with the Enhanced Pathways Business Case seeking approval to expand the project for academic year 26/27 with funding for another 20 pathways, extending the project to 60 countywide.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to: 

a)    Approve the Council to fund a further 20 Enhanced Pathways to triple the reach of the project to enable the Council to offer a more equitable offer across the county to meet the increasing numbers and complexities of children and young people with Special Educational Needs in mainstream schools and to realise probable savings through this spend to save model.  

b)    Approve the Council’s budgetary commitment for a period of 3 years for each Enhanced Pathway (barring significant changes to central government funding of SEND during that period).  

c)    Commit to consider and review opportunities to upscale the Enhanced Pathways programme over the coming years in line with the impact evidence provided.