SEND News

Work is now underway to draft Somerset’s SEND Reform Plan. This is a requirement set by the Department for Education and must be completed by mid‑June 2026.  The SEND Reform Plan sets out how Somerset will improve outcomes for children and young…

We currently send hundreds of children to independent special schools at significant cost to the council. For some children education in specialist schools is the best outcome, for others they thrive within mainstream schools and for a few, parents choosing…

Somerset Council is proud to announce that nominations are open for this year’s Celebrating Care and Achievement event – a celebration of all children looked after and care-experienced young people across the county, as well as the adults that support…

Consulting on the Government’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms is well underway. As is the national process for local areas to submit their Reform Plans. The deadline for submissions is 19 June. Colleagues across Children’s Services are therefore…

The county’s Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) have been consolidated. The new operational arrangements came into effect this month (1 April 2026), following a statutory consultation last year with staff, parents, carers, local organisations and the wider public. The changes are…

More than 99% of children starting school in Somerset this September have been offered a primary school place at one of their top 3 preferences. On national primary school offer day (16 April), Somerset Council confirmed that 99.43% of the 4,938…

A new early years programme to help children, parents and carers thrive from pregnancy through to school is being rolled out by Somerset Council (1 April 2026). Called ‘Best Start in Life’, it’s designed to support families during the first…

Somerset Council has been confirmed as a finalist for 2 nominations at the 2026 Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards, recognising meaningful work that is making a difference to young people, families, and communities across the county. The Awards are among…

The government set out its proposals for reform today (23 Feb 2026) and a 12-week consultation now begins. Leader of Somerset Council, Cllr Bill Revans, said the direction of travel was ‘encouraging’ but warned proposals must remain radical as they…

Young people across Somerset have the opportunity to vote to elect their new representatives to sit on the UK Youth Parliament at the Somerset Youth Parliament elections. With the support of schools, colleges and the wider community, Somerset will elect…

A major reorganisation of Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) in Somerset designed to improve the quality and consistency of alternative provision for the county’s children and young people, has been approved. At a meeting of Somerset Council’s Executive today (Wednesday 5…

A new website for young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) has just been launched. The Unstoppables platform provides the rundown on everything about the youth group: who they are, how often they meet, joining details, what they’ve…

The Leader of Somerset Council, Cllr Bill Revans, has expressed his frustration at news of delays to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform. A Schools White Paper was due to be published in the autumn. However the Government announced…

Parents, children, professionals, and the wider public are invited to have their say and help shape the future of children and family services in the county. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation to gain insights into what’s working well,…

If your child is due to start secondary school (Year 7) in September 2026, please note that applications are open. And Somerset parents and carers are being urged to apply online – and on time! Secondary school applications must be…

Plans to invest in improved data and artificial intelligence to help Somerset Council provide better services and reduce costs have been approved. Somerset Council’s Executive today (Wednesday, 1 October) agreed to invest £1.56 million in digital innovations as part of…

Here are some useful updates and resources for your setting – please keep these links on your desktop so that you have quick and easy access to them when you need them: Managing specific infectious diseases: A to Z –…

Somerset Council is inviting members of the community to attend a series of informal fostering information sessions this September. These events are open to anyone curious about fostering. Each session provides a relaxed setting to learn more about the realities…

The efforts and achievements of more than 430 Somerset children looked after and care leavers have been celebrated at this year’s Annual Achievement Awards. Children and young people were recognised for their efforts through nominations from social workers, foster carers,…

Somerset Council Leader, Bill Revans, has welcomed the findings of a new cross-party report calling for an overhaul of the “broken” funding model for local government. Cllr Revans joined local government leaders from across the country in March at Parliament…