SEND families in Wiltshire to have say on new support strategy
The Meeting needs together, ambitious for all plan was approved in September
Parents of children and young people with SEND in Wiltshire are being given a chance to have their say on how a new support strategy should be best implemented.
It follows the Council recently approving the SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy, which aims to ensure children and young people get the maximum from their education.
An online meeting is being held at 1pm on Friday 15th November to allow SEND families to give feedback on how the plans should be delivered and to ask questions, which can be sent in advance to Communications team - communications@wiltshire.gov.uk.
The meeting will be held on Microsoft Teams and can be accessed here.
The SEND and AP Strategy called Meeting needs together, ambitious for all - Local Offer has six core priorities designed to ensure that children and young people with SEND receive the best support at every stage:
- Children, young people, and families will be central to planning, with their voices and aspirations heard and acted upon as true partners.
- Delivering the right support at the right time, through early identification of needs and promotion of inclusive practices.
- Offering opportunities for timely planning that reflects the current needs of children and families, with clear outcomes.
- Ensuring good quality communication and easy access to information, so families have a positive experience navigating services.
- Empowering professionals with the knowledge, skills, and training to collaborate effectively, carry out joint assessments, and share good practices.
- Preparing children and young people for adulthood, enabling smoother transitions, greater independence, and a wider range of opportunities.
A second webinar is planned for 5th December at 6pm to discuss specific aspects of SEND support. A range of help is available for SEND children and young people and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPS) are one type available.
Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for SEND, said: "We are committed to ensuring children and young people with SEND receive the best start in life.
"Our strategy, developed with the input of families, schools, and other partners, sets out clear goals for improving the quality of support. Now we are putting words into action, and we want everyone to be part of that.
"We are also looking to simplify the funding process, ensuring that resources are allocated fairly while investing more into our SEND services. Once again a key part will be hearing from everyone as we move the proposals forward.”