Draft Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy 2023-2028
Have your say.
Consultation status ArchivedActivity closed. Results added.
Background
The aim of our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy is to improve the educational, health and emotional wellbeing outcomes for West Berkshire children and young people with SEND. By providing the right support, adjustments, and interventions, at the right time, we can help children with additional needs to thrive in childhood and to prepare well for adulthood.
Our current SEND Strategy 2018-2023: From birth to young adulthood, was developed in partnership with parents and carers, children and young people, and other local stakeholders, and is due for review.
We developed our draft SEND Strategy 2023-2028 using the following methods of research and engagement to better understand how to strengthen the support we provide, and where to focus resource:
- we undertook a strategic review of SEND provision in West Berkshire
- we met with parents and carers at local schools, nurseries and voluntary providers
- we carried out a Young Person's Survey (in partnership with the Youth Forum)
The information from these sources was analysed and we ran seven working groups, with colleagues from Education, Health, Social Care and the voluntary sector to discuss the core challenges being faced by children and young people with SEND and their families. The resulting draft strategy, and its associated projects and activities, is designed to drive improvements, and is focussed on six priority areas:
- Early Years
- Universal Offer (including SEND provision in mainstream schools)
- Local Specialist Provision
- Pathways to Adulthood
- Emotionally-Based School Avoidance (EBSA) and Young People's Mental Health
- Short Breaks and Respite
Short introduction video:
Why we want your views
We'd like to hear your views on our draft SEND Strategy, in particular our proposed Priority Areas, Principles, and their associated projects. We'd also like to know if it is clear and easy to understand.
It's by hearing from local people that we can understand if we're planning on taking the right action, focussing on the right areas, and if there is anything we've missed. We'd also like to know if you have any suggestions.
How to take part
If you'd like to comment on our draft strategy, please complete our survey by midnight on Sunday, 29 October 2023, which should take about 10 minutes.
We're also holding a Question and Answer (Q&A) session via Zoom with representatives from the West Berkshire SEND Strategic Partnership Board on:
Wednesday, 18 October from 6pm to 7.30pm (via Zoom)
If you'd like to attend, please click here to register by 5pm on Tuesday, 17 October 2023.
Please submit your questions for the Q&A by 5pm on Wednesday, 11 October by email to SENConsultations@westberks.gov.uk or when you register.
A summary of questions and answers from all the sessions will be shared on this page after the meeting.
If you have any questions about the consultation or would like a copy of the draft strategy and consultation documents in an alternative or physical format, please contact us either by email at SENConsultations@westberks.gov.uk, phone on 01635 519713 or write to SEN and Disabled Children's Service, West Berkshire Council, Market Street Offices, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5LD.
All submissions must reach us by midnight on Sunday, 29 October 2023.
What happens next
All feedback we receive will considered, analysed and used to inform the final version of the strategy which will be submitted to the Portfolio Holder for Education for their consideration. A decision will be made on by Individual Executive Member Decision in November 2023.
Once approved, the final strategy will be published on our Strategies, Policies and Plans, and the Local Offer webpages.
What you told us
- Case Review Sessions
- Listening Forums
- Coffee Mornings
- SEND Advice Sessions
- SEND Youth Survey
What we have done well:
- New educational settings have been built
- Specialist teams have been created or expanded, including Early Development & Inclusion (EDIT) Team the Autism Team and the Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) Team
- A new model of therapeutic practice has been introduced
- Clear standards of SEND provision in schools have been set
- Neurodiversity Service created with peer support available whilst awaiting assessment
- ‘Through My Eyes’ project has helped develop the skills of staff working with children and young people with SLCN
What needs to improve:
- Early identification and support of SEND needs
- Improved transition, including transition to adulthood
- Additional local provision required to meet need; particularly for SEMH, Autism and acute anxiety
- More consistent access to employment-related activity
- Additional short break and respite provision, including increasing access to extracurricular activities for those children and young people with EHCPs
- Continued upskilling of the workforce to ensure confidence in identifying and working with children and young people with SEND needs
- Increased family confidence in school’s abilities to meet SEND needs, including in mainstream provision and without the need for an EHCP
- Ensuring support is available throughout West Berkshire, reducing family’s needs to travel to access the support they need
What we did
For more information on our strategy and to read the action plans, please visit our dedicated webpage.
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