🌱Barking & Dagenham🌳 SEND Local Offer Newsletter
MARCH-APRIL 2025
Every child can grow and succeed at their own pace

Can’t you believe we are already two-thirds of the way through the school year? In this quarterly newsletter, we are excited to share a lot of updates and information from our education, health, social care, job teams and Just Say Forum. Get ready to check out our newsletter and links for some inspiring reads!
- SEND Improvement Plan Progress
- Just Say Parent Carer Forum Annual Conference
- B&D Opportunities
- Children and Young People with Disability Services
- NHS North East London (NELFT) Health Services Highlights
- NHS North East London (NEL) SEND & Health Update
- Family Hubs and Early Help
- Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Easter 2025 Programme
- Useful Contact
In Barking and Dagenham, we are ambitious for every child and young person, including for those who are disadvantaged, vulnerable, and have SEND. We are proud to share that our school attendance for children and young people with SEND is high. We are committed to provide every child with as many opportunities as possible to pursue their aspirations and develop their talents. This vision aligns with the recent messages from the Department of Education and Ofsted at the national conferences:
Press Release
From Department for Education and The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP
£740 million allocated for 10,000 new places for pupils with SEND – New SEND places to create more inclusive classrooms in mainstream schools, delivering on Plan for Change to break down barriers to opportunity. (27 March 2025, please click link for full speech)
‘’…Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council had a shortage of specialist classrooms in local mainstream schools for pupils with SEND, forcing them to attend schools far from home for the right support.Â
After a 10-year expansion strategy, almost half of all schools in the area have resourced provision which has improved outcomes for young people and kept them educated locally with their peers and in their communities. Â
Recent analysis suggests that at least 15,000 more children and young people could have their needs met in such specialist provision in mainstream schools in an improved SEND system.’’
Marie Ziane, Headteacher at Becontree Primary School, Dagenham, said:
‘’At Becontree Primary School, all of our work stems from a shared belief and understanding that all children have learning, well-being and safeguarding needs.’’
Capital funding, alongside support from the Local Authority, has been an essential part of realising our school’s vision for truly inclusive practice.
The modification and creative use of existing spaces has had a significant impact on the learning, engagement and integration of children with Autism who attend our Additional Resource Provision, as well as having a huge impact on the learning and understanding of all members of our school community.’’
‘’The announcement comes as new data shows the urgent need to reform the SEND system, to save families from a gap in support potentially stretching to tens of thousands of places.’’ Â
Speech
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, speech at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) conference (14 March 2025, please click link for full speech)
‘’…Children and young people with SEND – along with disadvantaged children – have the most to gain from high and rising standards. And a classroom that caters to all is a strength. Children thinking in different ways is a gift. It’s time we recognised that. I’ve been told this is too hard, that it can’t be done.
Of course it’s not easy, but it is possible. There are schools and trusts doing it already. I’ve talked to parents, and they tell me how important this is too.
One father told me about his daughter at Becontree Primary School in Dagenham, which has a SEND unit for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. His daughter moving into a mainstream school gave him faith that she will be able to achieve as an adult, get a job, be an active citizen.
It can be done.’’
Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Martyn Oliver, spoke at the 2025 SEND and Inclusion Conference: getting it right for everyone (12 March 2025, please click link for full speech)
‘’If you get it right for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable, you get it right for everyone.’’
Ofsted is proposing the introduction of a new evaluation specifically on inclusion. They seek to understand how education provider leaders foster a culture where every child feels welcomes, safe, and valued. They are going to do everything they can to recognise when education providers are doing everything they can for every child and learner, including disadvantaged children, vulnerable children, children with SEND. Ofsted is consulting parents, carers, professionals and learners now. It’s open until 28th April.
SEND Improvement Plan – Progress
Area 1: All children and young people with SEND are effectively prepared for adulthood Creation of Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) specific annual review paperwork for children & young people in […]
Read MoreJust Say Parent Carer Forum Annual Conference 2025
Thank you for being part of our Just Say Annual Conference at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club on 5th March 2025! It was fantastic to see so many parents, carers, […]
Read MoreB&D Opportunities
Our dedicated portal to help you access training, jobs and business opportunities. Featured News GSQ Brickwork Provides Hands-On Bricklaying Experience for Aspiring Bricklayers Site Ready Solutions and GSQ Brickwork participated […]
Read MoreChildren and Young People with Disability Service
Portage and Inclusion Education Service Portage is a home visiting education service for pre-school children (0-5) with additional support needs and their families. The team are based at Alibon Children […]
Read MoreNHS North East London (NELFT) Health Service Highlights
NHS North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) – Barking and Dagenham NHS NELFT Antenatal Service NHS NELFT Antenatal Service website Your team will be contacted any time after the 28th week of […]
Read MoreNHS North East London (NEL) SEND & Health Update
NHS North East London (NEL) – Barking and Dagenham SEND Delivery Group Project Plans The aim of this group is to have greater understanding of the SEND needs of children in Barking […]
Read MoreFamily Hubs and Early Help
Barking and Dagenham are making sure that all our families can get the support they need. Our Family Hubs (Barking, Dagenham and Marks Gate), Family Navigators and Early Help outreach […]
Read MoreHoliday Activity and Food (HAF) Easter 2025 Programme
Please see the flyer (PNG, 285 KB) or visit our HAF webpage which provides details on each programme and how to book.
Read MoreUseful Contact

- MASH Team: 020 8227 3811 (Monday-Friday) 020 8215 3000 (Out of duty hours)
- Child at immediately risk, call police on 999
- SENDIASS (Carer’s Hub): 020 8593 4422 / carers@carerscentre.org.uk
- Travel Assistance: request@lbbd.gov.uk
- Early Help Service/Family Hubs: 020 8227 5600 / familynavigators@lbbd.gov.uk
- CYP Disability Hub: 0208 227 5500 / CYPDHub@lbbd.gov.uk
- Family Information Team: 020 8227 5395 / fis@lbbd.gov.uk
- Education Inclusion Team: inclusion@lbbd.gov.uk
- Adult Social Care Intake Team (Transition): 020 8227 2915 / IntakeTeam@lbbd.gov.uk
- EHCP Team: 020 8227 2400 / EHCenquires@lbbd.gov.uk
- School Nursing Team: 0300 300 1813 / DutydeskchildrenBD@nelft.nhs.uk
.