Improving the way we fund and deliver SEND support services

Work is underway over the next three years that will improve the way we deliver inclusive education across all South Gloucestershire schools and early years settings.

The changes are relevant to all parents and carers and will be of particular interest to you if you have a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  

This is about putting children at the centre and supporting them to thrive from pre-school and through all the changes and transitions in their lives. The changes support the council’s top priority to give all our children and young people the best start in life.

This letter has been sent to all parents and carers in South Gloucestershire via schools and early years settings in early April 2022 to explain:

• Our vision and plan for improving the way we fund and deliver SEND support across the local education system, so that whatever a child’s needs are and wherever they go to nursery, school or college, there is fairness in paying for support, more inclusive learning across South Gloucestershire and more specialist care locally, too.

• The changes to be phased in over the next three years in more detail and what this means to schools, children and families.

While these changes will alter the way we fund some activity in schools, any child with an Education Health and Care plan (EHCP) will still have their needs met in full.

If you have a child with special educational needs or disabilities:

• if you would like support from other families, or you wish to feedback on this work, you can contact South Glos Parent Carers, our local parent carer forum who provide a strong and independent voice of families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Visit their website at: www.sgpc.org.uk.

• SEND And You (SAY), provides the Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.  They give free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support for parents, children and young people aged up to 25 about Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, the law, local policy and practice, the Local Offer and Education, Health and Care (EHC) Assessments and Plans. Visit www.sendandyou.org.uk.

This webpage will be updated with latest news and developments.

June 2022 update

The following letter and easy read letter have been sent to all parents and carers and provide a summary of the changes we are making to our local arrangements for SEND, including details of on-line 'question and answer' sessions. 

For general enquiries regarding SEND, including SEN Support Services, please contact Will Pritchard, Strategic Lead for inclusion and SEND: will.pritchard@southglos.gov.uk