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<p>Mediation proposals are being tested through the Special Educational Needs and
Disabilities (SEND) Change Programme. These tests aim to develop a best practice model
for delivering high-quality mediation provisions.</p><p>The proposals being tested
include asking local authorities to: signpost new family friendly guidance on mediation
in their local offer; take part in pre-mediation meetings; respond to requests for
mediation with available dates within 5 working days; and, where possible, to use
mediators listed on the Civil Mediation Council/College of Mediators SEND register.</p><p>The
department will carefully consider the feedback and findings from the Change Programme.
The department expects this to include data on mediation timeliness as well as feedback
on outcomes and families' experiences of the process. Testing will also help to better
understand the required capacity to deliver timely, high-quality mediation and to
identify any delivery challenges.</p><p>The department is also testing an advisory
tailored list in participating local authorities through the Change Programme to gain
feedback on the best way to support families as they choose a placement. To illustrate
choice, participating families will receive detailed and relevant information about
placements that could be suitable to meet the needs of their child, but there will
be no change to the existing statutory framework and their existing rights will be
unaffected. The department will use the Change Programme as an opportunity to learn
how tailored lists can best support family experiences as well as their potential
to support local authorities to manage their placements and provision.</p><p>Finally,
the Education Health and Care (EHC) plan template that local authorities on the Change
Programme are now preparing to pilot was extensively coproduced with a wide range
of SEND experts, including families themselves. Following this period of testing,
the department will finalise and publish the EHC plan template.</p>
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