Child-Centred Placements & High Needs Block Management

Join us for an insightful Panoramic Associates Briefing designed for SEND professionals, educators, and local authority leaders, focusing on two critical areas: ensuring effective placements for children with EHCPs and managing the High Needs Block while maintaining positive outcomes.

Our expert speakers will provide practical, child-centred strategies and policy insights to help you navigate the complexities of SEND provision.

The Details

Date: Wednesday 5th March
Time: 16:00 – 17:00
Location: Microsoft Teams (link shared after registering)
Who:SEND professionals, educators, and local authority leaders
Registration: Sign up to secure your free spot

The Talks

Making placements work: the children’s perspective and government views (Annie Gammon)

Annie explores the process of placing children with Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) from the perspective of the children themselves. Through the experiences of three children with diverse needs and backgrounds, Annie examines what contributes to successful placements and how different approaches impact outcomes.

Emphasising what we want to achieve for the children who we work for, Annie’s talk will reflect on what this means for professional practice across education, social care, health, and SEND.

The session will also highlight the government’s position on potential reforms and the implications these changes may have for EHCP placements in the future.

The 5 ‘no’s of Deficit Recovery: Balancing management of the High Needs Block with good outcomes for children (Emma Ferrey)

Emma provides five actionable strategies that you can immediately implement in your settings to drive positive change and effectively manage spending within the High Needs Block.

Our Speakers

Annie Gammon – Leader of Education

I have worked in the education field for over 30 years – always holding to the principle of making sure every child gets a high quality education. My latest role has been Interim Director of Education, Participation and Skills for Plymouth City Council. This included overseeing SEND provision and leading the area through a SEND inspection.

Prior to that I spent four years as Director of Education for the London Borough of Hackney, overseeing the full range of educational services for children, families and schools. During that period I directed work around SEND provision, reducing exclusions, early years and multiagency collaboration to support vulnerable children.

For the previous ten years, I was headteacher of a large successful inclusive 11-19 comprehensive school. I also have experience being a trustee and chair of academy trusts, a governor of a special school, being a governor of a sixth form college and inspecting schools.

Emma Ferrey – High Needs Block and SEND Consultant

Having worked in many roles in both schools and local authorities over the past 20+ years, I am passionate about good outcomes for children that prepare them for a meaningful adult life.

My work focusses on opportunities for savings and cost avoidance. Over the past 4 years, I have worked to save authorities around £8m as well as identified significant cost avoidance in the 10s of millions.

Register

Sign up today to secure your free spot.