SEND and Inclusion Strategy Updates

Earlier in the year South Gloucestershire Council hosted a number of workshops open to parent carers, professionals and anyone involved in looking after and supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Staff here at South Glos Parent Carers (SGPC), volunteers and families joined a wide variety of professionals, to focus on four different areas: Presence, Independence, Participation and Achievement.

The lived experiences and views shared at these have been used to develop a draft SEND strategy. And now it’s time to check that the priorities from the information-gathering sessions have been correctly understood in the new strategy. These include:

• Ensuring that children and young people with SEND can take part in high quality education with their peers

• Allowing children and young people with SEND to learn, have fun and feel a sense of belonging and inclusion in their local community

• Giving young people with SEND a voice so they feel heard and accepted, achieve what they want to, make good progress and take part in activities outside of education.

Share your views

Through this co-design process, it is the aim of South Gloucestershire Council to understand the views of all interested parties and are keen to hear from them again in this consultation survey. They welcome comments from:

• Children and young people with SEND

• Representatives from the South Glos Parent Carers Forum and other parents and carers of children and young people with SEND

• People who buy or provide health, education, and social services

• Early years settings, schools, colleges, and further education providers

• South Gloucestershire Council employees, including education, health and social care.

Click on the ‘Have Your Say’ button to be directed to the consultation survey. The survey closes on 20 Sep 2023 at 23:59

Thank you to all who came along to the SEND strategy workshops and online sessions or who completed the survey. All the information gathered from these will now be taken forward as the next steps are planned.

At the second of the SEND strategy workshops, the focus was independence.

Parents and SEND professionals joined together and shared their hopes and ideas for the future.

At the heart of all our discussions were the children and families. What does independence mean for an individual child?

Some we know will continue to need life long support and ensuring a smooth hand over as they move to adult services is vital.

Parent Carers, there is another chance to have your say as we look at the key points from this workshop at the online session on 21st March 7:30pm - 8:30pm.

Reserve your spot and hop online to join the discussion.

The next workshop focus is Participation, come and join us on Wednesday 8th February 2023 10am-12pm

SGPC Staff and parent reps attended the first of four SEND Strategy workshops on the topic of Presence.

We had lots of interesting conversations, small groups of parents carers and professionals sat around tables with a facilitator. It was very friendly and everyone had the opportunity to have their say .

These conversations were not just about attendance in school's although, this was an important factor for our families, but we also discussed the barriers across Health, Education and Social Care.

Parent Carers, we’d love to see you at the follow-up session on 21 February 7:30pm – 8:30pm where we will look at the key points from this workshop. Reserve your spot and hop online to join the discussion.

The Time for Action is NOW - South Gloucestershire SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2023-2028

Calling all parents of a child with a disability or additional needs - with or without a diagnosis?

South Glos are planning their services for the next 5 years for children aged 0 – 25 and NOW is the time to help shape services that support children with additional needs and disabilities - and their families (you can watch the video below to find out more about the plans).

There are several ways you can get involved

1. Have your Say
Complete this  short survey to share your experiences and suggestions.

2. Attend a workshop
There are four in person workshops open to parent carers, professionals and anyone involved in looking after and supporting children with SEND.
All the workshops will take place at BAWA, 589 Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol BS34 7RF with each one focusing on a different area of the strategy.

3. Jump online to a Twilight Session
A series of online sessions are running in the evening - especially for Parent Carers who find it difficult to attend in-person.

Book your place
In-person Workshops SEND and Inclusion Strategy Development workshops
Online Twilight Sessions Parent Carer online events

Presence - Wednesday 11th January 2023 10am-12pm
Presence is all about ensuring children are able to attend local schools and settings that meet individual needs. It would be especially helpful to hear from those families who’s children have had difficulty in attending school or accessing appropriate education provision. 
 
Topics will include 

·         Identifying children’s needs

·         Supporting those needs

·         Supporting attendance at school or an appropriate provision

·         Reducing exclusion 
 

Independence Tuesday 24th January 2023 10am-12pm
This session will focus on maximising opportunities for children with SEND and is particularly appropriate for those with experience supporting older children, or young people as they move into adulthood. 

 Topics will include:

·         Transitions

·         An earlier focus on independence

·         Preparing for Adulthood

Participation Wednesday 8th February 2023 10am-12pm
This Participation session covers how children, young people, and families are fully supported to make meaningful decisions at every stage of their journey.
 
Topics will include:

·         Making sure the child’s voice is heard

·         Ensuring that Parent Carers and Families are included

·         Children at risk of Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)

Achievement Wednesday 22 February 2023 10am-12pm
Children and young people with SEND should be supported to achieve at school in their learning and their futures This session will explore achievement with consideration of children’s strengths, wellbeing, and resiliency.

Topics will include:

·         Strengths

·         Wellbeing and resilience for their learning

·         Wellbeing and resilience for their future

Can’t make it in person? You can attend an online Twilight Session.
A series of online sessions are running in the evening - especially for Parent Carers! 
 
Participation Parent/carer twilight online engagement workshop: 21 February 2023 7:30pm – 8:30pm 

Achievement Parent/carer twilight online engagement workshop: 28 February 2023 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Presence Parent/carer twilight online engagement workshop: 8 March 2023 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Independence Parent/carer twilight online engagement workshop:  21 March 2023 7:30pm – 8:30pm

To book a space on any of these, visit Take part in one of our parent carer online events