Introduction - better belonging
Lincolnshire County Council and the local area SEND partnership is firmly committed to supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and those requiring alternative provision (AP).
Building on the foundations of significant sufficiency investment over the last 6 years, the better belonging SEND sufficiency strategy sets out a bold and inclusive vision for the future of inclusive education in Lincolnshire.
At its heart is a simple but powerful principle:
- belonging: every child should feel respected, included, and optimistic about their future—supported to learn and grow within their local community
This strategy recognises that support must be flexible, responsive, and rooted in the places children live and learn.
By reducing reliance on long-distance placements and costly home to school transport, it aims to strengthen community connections, improve outcomes for children and families, and ensure the SEND system remains financially sustainable.
The better belonging Lincolnshire sufficiency strategy is part of the council’s wider approach to inclusion in education for children and young people.
Partners in education, health and social care are committed to working together to provide an integrated school system where children and young people get the right health, care and education, in the right place, at the right time and have a positive transition to adulthood and independence.
There is an established local area partnership expectation and agreement for inclusion to be embedded throughout all schools and a commitment to fully engage with and implement available provision and support to meet children and young people’s needs as early as possible.
This strategy will be reviewed annually by the SEND and AP strategic partnership board to take account of updated forecasts and changing needs. It will be responsive to changes in need and demand, and informed by the detailed analysis of live data.