I have been asked by Scottish Government to chair an independent strategic review of learning provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs known in brief as “The Doran Review”.

My own background, prior to retiring last year, has been largely in the development and management of services for children with complex needs and I am well aware of the aspirations of parents and carers for their children.

For some children and young people their range of additional support needs are met by the local authority in which they live whilst for others the range of need may be beyond the capacity of the local authority and for these children and young people access to regional or national provision may be required. 

The Doran Review will consider how the current provision is working and whether it is achieving the best possible outcomes for Scotland’s children and young people and will recommend any improvements. 

I am hoping to conclude the review in the spring of 2012.  Full details of the review and how it is organised are available on a dedicated website  – www.doranreview.org. If you would prefer a hard copy of the review details then please email – doranreview@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

A project review board and two working groups have been established and these groups have started to examine the issues which the Review will address. Current membership represents a wide range of expertise, including parents of children and young people with complex additional support needs.  The working groups will complete their reports over the coming weeks and these will be considered by the project review board when it next meets at the end of August.

I am concerned to ensure that the voices of parents, carers, children and young people are heard and inform the review outcomes.  At this stage I am wanting to ensure that they are aware of the review and that they know how to access the review remit and the way the review is organised.  At a later stage I will want to hear from them directly and details of how I hope to do this will be available on the website above. 

At the heart of this review are the interests of children and young people and how we can protect and enhance their interests. If you have ideas about the review and wish to share those now, please comment on this blog or email the review team at the address above.

I look forward to receiving your views throughout the review process.

Peter Doran
Chair
www.doranreview.org

Also see an earlier blog by Peter Doran
Review launched for children & young people with additional support needs