The NNPCF is aware that many Parent Carer Forums (PCFs) are engaging with Local Area SEND Improvement Boards that are chaired independently. We wanted to provide some context about why Independent Chairs have been introduced, how they are intended to function, and to share emerging feedback from PCF areas where Independent Chairs are already in place.
Why Independent Chairs?
The Independent Chair role was established primarily to support local areas that received an ‘inconsistent’ outcome in their Local Area SEND Inspection (under the new inspection framework) to support and drive the delivery of the Priority Action Plan. However, some areas that have not received an inconsistent outcome have also chosen to employ an independent chair to support local SEND Boards.
Funding for the independent Chairs is generally provided by the Local Authority, with many roles also supported through joint commissioning arrangements for the role in place in place with the Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Independent Chairs typically:
- Have extensive senior leader experience and have an understanding of SEND Practice and legislation as well as the Ofsted and CQC Local Area SEND Inspection Framework.
- Work independently of both the Local Authority and Integrated Care Board (ICB).
- Chair Improvement Board meetings
- Meet with a wide range of local stakeholders, including PCFs
- Offer both challenge and support
- Work alongside the Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England (NHSE)
The intention behind the role is to provide credible, independent leadership that can strengthen accountability, maintain focus on impact, and support sustained system improvement.
The Job Descriptions for the role of the independent chair, can be found within the Improvement Board Tool Kit.
The Local Government Association is supporting the Role of independent chairs with Dame Christine Lenehan and Deborah Glassbrook chairing regular meetings bring together all independent chairs who are supporting areas to deliver Priority Action Plans to share the learning
The Improvement Board Toolkit
As part of the Department for Education’s Research and Improvement for SEND Excellence (RISE) programme, a new SEND Improvement Board Toolkit has been developed. This toolkit was funded by the Department for Education and created by Dame Christine Lenehan and Deborah Glassbrook, drawing on significant consultation and co-development with multi-agency stakeholders who have been involved in some of the first statutorily required SEND Improvement Boards.
The toolkit consists of 10 exemplar documents, designed to be used flexibly and adapted by Local Area Partnerships. It was developed in response to a clear need to capture learning from early Improvement Boards and to test what has worked well, and what has not, in practice. The toolkit is not intended to provide all the answers; rather, it offers practical scaffolding to support Improvement Boards to function effectively and consistently.
The toolkit is available here: Improvement Board Toolkit
Feedback from PCF Areas with Independent Chairs
(NNPCF feedback summary from some of the PCF areas who have independent chairs – December 2025)
The NNPCF has gathered feedback from PCFs in some of the areas where Independent Chairs are in place. While experiences vary, several common themes have emerged.
Credible, independent leadership and challenge
Where the role works well, Independent Chairs bring strong sector credibility that secures senior engagement, enables robust challenge, and supports effective decision-making.
Outcome-focused leadership
Strong, independent leadership helps shift systems away from compliance and towards meaningful, sustained improvements for children, young people and families.
Parent carer voice and system alignment
Effective Independent Chairs champion PCFs, embedding lived experience into decision-making and strengthening joint working across education, health and care through constructive challenge.
Sustainability and consistency of impact
Some PCFs raised concerns about reliance on individuals and effective succession planning to ensure that the system does not return to data-led compliance once the role ends.
Independence, culture and local context
Perceived independence can potentially be undermined where Chairs are LA-funded. In a few areas, cultural resistance and limited local knowledge further constrain the effectiveness of the role.
NNPCF reflections
Independent Chairs have the potential to play a vital and valuable role in supporting SEND system improvement, particularly where they are genuinely independent, skilled in relational leadership, and committed to co-production with parent carers.
The NNPCF will continue to listen to PCF experiences, raise themes at a national level, and advocate for approaches that strengthen authentic co-production and deliver meaningful improvements for children, young people and families. Along with our continued work with Dame Christine Lenehan and Deborah Glassbrook and the Independent Chair Group.