The Ministry of Justice has recently published a toolkit to help parents and carers better understand their rights and what they need to do under the Mental Capacity Act to manage the finances of their child – should they lose the…

For June’s meeting, we attended a Family Fun Day at Brookside Academy, organised by Somerset Parent Carer Forum & Community Inclusion Activity Team. Our SEND Young Persons Champion has written about the day below 😊 Brookside Family Fun Day by…

With the summer holidays fast approaching, it feels like a good time to reflect on the work that has taken place this year. It was exciting to see the creation of a new foundation degree with a Special Educational Needs…

In 2021, the Inclusion Champions Network was established, uniting a dedicated group of employees and volunteers from across the system in Somerset. The primary goal is to create and embed an inclusive culture that supports individuals with Special Educational Needs…

We are pleased to inform you that the latest updated pre-assessment pathway documents for Autism and ADHD are now available on our website. These documents have been carefully developed in collaboration with education, health, and care colleagues, as well as…

Booking for September’s online webinars on the Early Years Graduated Response Tool are now open. These webinars will introduce users to the new co -produced Early Years tool and are aimed at training professionals who use the Graduated Response with…

The government is seeking public input on amendments to the statutory guidance found in the Working Together to Safeguard Children documents. This consultation, is accessible through- Working Together to Safeguard Children: changes to statutory guidance – Department for Education –…

We continually work to update our Local Offer based on your feedback and views. We have recently made some changes to our Leisure pages, where you can find ideas about things to do for you and your family – just…

Independent Travel Training is available for students aged 14 plus with a special educational need or disability who require assistance to travel independently to an educational establishment, resource base or work placement. How are Students referred? SEND Students applying for…

Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) is an educational psychology led intervention for promoting the emotional literacy and wellbeing of children and young people. The role of ELSAs has grown significantly in Somerset since it was introduced a number of years…

As we head towards the end of the academic year, Dingley’s Promise reminds us that transition should be seen as a marathon rather than a sprint. Transitioning from an Early Years setting to school can often feel race-like as we…

We are very happy to introduce the June edition of SEND News, and ourselves! We are really enjoying our new roles. We are Sam and Molly, and we work in in Inclusion Transformation and Partnerships. Sam is the Engagement and…

At our June meeting we had a fun packed agenda! We had a visit from Gemma and Alice for an update from the Local Offer. Alice, our Local Offer Young Person Champion, has done a lot of work on the…

Somerset Council places great emphasis on addressing the educational needs of students with EHCPs (Education, Health, and Care Plans). Somerset follows the “Local First” strategy, prioritizing nearby school options to minimize travel time and costs, encourage parental involvement, and reduce…

The inclusion transformation team are incredibly excited to have proposed a long-term project across West Somerset to bring specialist expertise and resource to the area.  The area was granted funds to support a project as part of the legacy of…

The much talked about Hill View Academy in South Somerset is really starting to take shape and progress as a school building.  Finally breaking ground in 2023 provided hope that the much-anticipated specialist free school for children with Social and…

As our Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) provision grows across Somerset, the Council are delighted that a third specialist school will be in operation within the next few years.  The Council won a bid for a third free school…

The directors of Somerset Parent Carer Forum are delighted to announce that the chair of the steering group, Tina Emery, has been awarded an OBE in the birthday honours list for her services to children and young people with Special…

June is here, and it’s time to celebrate Pride! Somerset is joining the global movement to honor the LGBTQ+ community, their resilience, and their ongoing fight for equality. Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or simply believe in a more inclusive…

Learning Disabilities Week is from the 19th-25th of June, and the theme is busting myths. We want to show the world the incredible things that people with a learning disability achieve, smashing misconceptions about what people can do and shining a light…