Pathfinder Advisory Group

The Department for Education and Department of Health have convened a Pathfinder Advisory Group which met for the first time on 29 March.

The Group's purpose is to advise Government on the pathfinder programme.  The group will:

  • Provide a forum for the stakeholders to advise on the development of the pathfinder programme;
  • Feed emerging findings, issues and good practice from the pathfinder programme back into the policy development process; and
  • Maintain a cross-Government link

The Group will meet on a quarterly basis and will be chaired by Stephen Kingdom (Deputy Director, Department for Education, Special Educational Needs and Disability) and Karen Turner (Deputy Director, Department of Health, Delivery Programmes, Children, Families and Maternity).  Pathfinder leads will also be in attendance on an informal rota basis.

Members of the Pathfinder Advisory Group are:    

Carrie Britton/Sarah Thomas - National Network of Parent Carer Forums

Christine Lenehan - Council for Disabled Children

Deborah Ribchester - Association of Colleges

Des Herlihy - Headteacher, Royton and Crompton School (Achievement for All programme)

Professor Gillian Baird - Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Jean Gross CBE - Education consultant

Jo Webber - NHS Confederation

Julie Jennings - Special Education Consortium

Julie Lynes-Grainger - YPLA

Liz Hobson - Local Government Association

Mike McGrath - Communities and Local Government

Rob O'Carroll - Department for Work and Pensions

Tbc - Association of Directors of Children's Services

André Imich - SEN and Disability Professional Adviser, Department for Education

Christine Humphrey - Professional Advisor, Department of Health

Jenny Gray - Safeguarding Professional Advisor, Department for Education