SEND and Alternative Provision Partnership

Who are we?

The Cumberland SEND & AP Partnership is made up of several organisations responsible for delivering SEND Services and provision in Cumberland. This includes: 

• Cumberland Council
• North East and North Cumbria ICB (responsible for commissioning health services for most of Cumberland)
• Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB (responsible for commissioning health services for the Millom area and South Cumbria)
• SENDAC, the statutory parent/ carer forum for Cumberland
• Our schools and education providers in Cumberland, including Alternative Provisions

The Partnership works to ensure that all these organisations work together to deliver effective and efficient services for families in Cumberland. We were formed in January 2024, following the Local Government Re-organisation Process in Cumbria, which saw Cumbria County Council be replaced by the two new unitary authorities, Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council. 

Part of our work includes preparing for Ofsted and CQC Local Area SEND Inspections. These inspections assess how well our partnership works, and how effective SEND services and provision is in the local area. Our last inspection took place in June 2025; you can read more about it here.