Representation

Engaging with policy-making agencies, service providers and other organisations

The association seeks to promote its aims by working with government and other bodies who develop policies, initiatives or provision relating to children and young people with SEBD.

Representatives of the association are invited to speak for SEBDA in consultations on policy development and on the committees of a number of relevant charitable or professional groups.  In so doing they seek to inform and influence decisions and promote collaborative working and a shared understanding.

Our Association has been asked to contribute to reviews of national policy and the creation of guidance on various occasions in recent decades. We seek to respond to major government consultations relevant to working with children and young people with SEBD.

Examples of SEBDA’s work with Government:

SEBDA:

• Presented to the DFE regarding the core content of Initial Teacher Training (2015)
• Played an active role in the consultations for the 2008 DCSF BESD Guidance as well as for Circular 9/94 'The Education of Children with EBD'.
• Contributed to the Inclusion Development Programme (BESD).
• Was represented on the Expert Group for the 2008 DCSF/DH sponsored national review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
• Sent responses to government on major Green and White Papers, such as 'Care Matters' and 'Back on Track'.

SEBDA is currently working with a number of organisations including Nurture Group Network, Engage in their Futures, nasen, the Council for Disabled Children and the National Union of Teachers

	David Colley represents SEBDA at the meetings of NCB of which SEBDA is a member. NCB is a charity whose mission is 'to improve children and young people's experiences and life chances, reducing the impact of inequalities'. Tina ensures that SEBDA is up to date and appropriately involved in relevant initiatives.
	Joan Pritchard represents SEBDA on the Policy and Strategy Advisory Group (PSAG) of YoungMinds, a charity 'committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people'
	The 'YoungMinds in School' project  aims 'to improve outcomes for children and young people with emotional and social difficulties by providing a comprehensive suite of online learning resources for educational professionals along with a range of training courses related to mental health and wellbeing in schools'.
	Sue Vernoit represents SEBDA as a member of the National Council of CDC, the umbrella body for the disabled children's sector in England.
	David Colley works closely with CEO  Kevin Kibble and training manager Helen Stollery on a range of related issue in order to develop a mutually supportive relationship between our two organisations.
	SEBDA is a member of the Communication Consortium, The Communication Trust's stakeholder group. The purpose of the group is to advise and support The Communication Trust's programme of work.
Brendan Loughnane is representing SEBDA on a newly developing group aiming to provide a voice for residential child care workers in the wake of the closure of the Children's Workforce Development Council and the National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care.