A draft of Lewisham Council’s new strategy for running special needs services for children and young people will be available to view next week. 

Parents, carers and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are asked to view the draft before it is finalised and let the council know what they think.  

The local area partnership special needs and disability strategy will be implemented in 2020 and run for three years.  

The council has already run a consultation on the plans, which ended in September.  

Although Lewisham’s children’s services were rated ‘requires improvement’ overall by Ofsted in July, the report stated that children with disabilities were treated well. 

A spokesman said: “Disabled children in need of help and protection benefit from effective services.  

“There is sensitive consideration and understanding of the needs of children and families by knowledgeable social workers, who are aspirational for their children.  

“Social workers demonstrate a good awareness of the increased risk of abuse for these children because of their additional vulnerabilities.  

“The well-trained team undertakes regular direct work with children and their families using a range of communication methods.

“This informs assessments and plans, and, as a result, the lives of disabled children are improving. “

The draft will be available to view on Monday, November 18, from 6.30pm to 8pm and Monday, November 25 from 1.30pm to 3pm at Lewisham Town Hall in the Civic Suite.