About SEND East
SEND East facilitates collaboration among local authorities across the region to enhance all aspects of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It promotes the sharing of best practice, joint problem-solving, constructive challenge, and continuous improvement.
This work is led by Improvement East and the regional SEND lead, Sheelagh Sullivan, and is sponsored by Michael Marks, Director of Children’s Services in Southend and the designated lead DCS for the programme. The Regional Self-Evaluation and Peer Challenge process informs the identification of regional priorities.
The Strategic SEND Steering Group steers collaboration, innovation, and improvement efforts, driving the implementation of the Regional SEND Development Plan. All activities are undertaken in close collaboration with health partners, children and young people, and their families.
The SEND RIIA is working with Local Area Partnerships across the region on a variety of projects that support improving the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND and their families.
Mainstream Inclusion
What is the Inclusion Community of Practice?
As part of the Regional Improvement and Innovation Alliances (RIIAs) Programme for 2025/26, DfE have asked Improvement East to establish an Inclusion Community of Practice for the Eastern Region, with the purpose of supporting and accelerating progress towards greater inclusion in mainstream education.
How will it be delivered?
The Eastern Region Inclusion Community of Practice will be facilitated by Improvement East via the 2025/26 RIIA grant, and all activities will be co-produced and delivered in partnership by regional colleagues.
Who should attend?
The Inclusion Community of Practice invites participation from all 11 LAs in the Region. LA Inclusion leaders and practitioners, Health and Parent-Carer representatives are invited to join.
Sign Up!
The first Inclusion Community of Practice meeting is online at 1pm on Thursday 16 October. For more information click here or email EasternRegionCIB@norfolk.gov.uk
Regional Targeted SEND Support Offer
Improvement East is delighted to launched a new Regional SEND Support Offer for 2025/26. It aims to leverage regional expertise, peer-to-peer collaboration, and DfE funding to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The approach focuses on tailored support for Local Authorities to address their specific priorities and challenges.
The Regional SEND Support Offer sits alongside several initiatives to assist Local Authorities in the region, and is fully funded as part of the 2025/26 RIIA Grant. The support offer complements these activities and focuses on what can be done within individual local authorities on a topic of their choosing.
Packages of support are available, led by a team of experienced consultants with the aim of providing support to LAs seeking to make swift improvement in an area of their choice. Packages are fully funded and could be arranged as a one-off whole day workshop through to a longer piece of up to 4-5 days.
Get in touch!
To find out more information click here or email EasternRegionCIB@norfolk.gov.uk
Useful links
Communities of Practice and Networks
The Eastern Region SEND Network Strategic Partnership Group meets online on a quarterly basis
