Families across Wiltshire are being urged to help shape the future of support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The call comes as the government prepares to roll out national reforms to the SEND system, with every local authority – including Wiltshire – tasked with creating its first Local SEND Reform Plan.
The new plan will set out long-term improvements, including strengthening early support in schools and early years settings, increasing access to specialist provision, and introducing a new ‘Experts at Hand’ offer. This initiative will bring specialist practitioners into early years settings, schools and post-16 environments more regularly.
Wiltshire Council is working in partnership with the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council to host a series of events, giving parent carers the opportunity to share their experiences and help shape future services.
Insights gathered will directly influence the Local SEND Reform Plan, including the universal offer, early years provision, post-16 pathways and how services work together across education, health and care.
Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said, “Parent carers are experts in their children’s needs, and their insight is absolutely vital as we develop Wiltshire’s Local SEND Reform Plan. The survey and these events are a real opportunity to shape how support looks in the future, from early years right through to post-16. We want families to feel heard, understood and genuinely involved.
“Parent carers are encouraged to sign up and share their experiences, ideas and priorities. Every contribution will help build a clearer picture of what families need now and for the future.”
Parent carers can also attend one of the following sessions taking place after Easter:
- Friday 24 April, 10am–1pm – face-to-face at the Corn Exchange, Devizes
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/send-reform-codesign-session-tickets-1985730387042 - Tuesday 28 April, 4pm–6pm – online session
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/send-reform-codesign-tickets-1985731798263 - Friday 1 May, 10am–12 noon – online session
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/send-reform-codesign-tickets-1985732360946
