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The London Boroughs of Bromley and Bexley have been selected to be ‘pathfinders’ for some of the biggest reforms in 30 years to help disabled children and those with special educational needs (SEN).

The councils will work together to develop changes to the services offered to children, young people and their families, as well as how those services are accessed.

The proposed changes to special educational needs and disability were set out by the Government in its Green Paper 'Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability' earlier this year. A three month consultation period followed and local authorities were invited to submit their application to become part of the pathfinder programme.

The Minister for Children and Families, Sarah Teather, announced the successful pathfinder councils on 20 September.

An extra £150,000 of government funding will be available to each of the councils to pilot some of the changes.

Each pathfinder will test some core elements of reform, including: 

- A single education, health and care plan from birth to 25 years old, focusing on whether outcomes for    disabled children and their parents have been improved.

- Personal budgets for parents of disabled children and those with SEN so they can choose which services best suit the needs of their children.

- Strong partnership between all local services and agencies working together to help disabled children and those with SEN.

- Improved commissioning, particularly through links to health reforms.

- The role of voluntary and community sector organisations and parents in a new system.

- The cost of reform.

Bexley and Bromley’s pathfinder will pilot; personal budgets, banded funding and support to parents and young people.

Bexley's Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr John Fuller said; "This is great news for local children's services. These changes have been designed with the child and their family in mind and I am delighted that we have been chosen as a pathfinder to test some of the elements at this early stage. I hope that by being invited to take part we will be at the forefront of this exciting special education needs and disability reform."

Bromley Council’s Executive Member for the Children and Young People Portfolio, Councillor Ernest Noad said: “I’m delighted that we have been chosen to perform this role to test out the recommendations in the Green Paper and input into the final decisions. This sits very well with the keen interest that Bromley Councillors have shown over the years in Special Educational Needs and is also a reflection of our strong service in this field.”

The next stage of the process will be for the councils to work with the Government's Pathfinder Programme Support Team to draw up a project plan for the changes. 

The exercise is expected to be completed by March 2013, but may last for longer.