Thank you Gaby! Our amazing SEND YPC Gaby has now finished her role as young person’s champion and is now the Engagement and Participation Worker for our regional forum CYPSA (Children and young people self-advocacy). We’re so proud of how…

We run a series of events throughout a week to help you understand the services available for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities in Somerset. But this March, The Local Offer is going on the road, and…

Staff and young people came together at County Hall in Taunton, to celebrate the achievements of a very special young person, our youth voice superhero, Josh Lancaster! Josh is unique in youth voice by being a member of the Unstoppables,…

Hello and welcome to the first SEND Newsletter of 2024. I am delighted to have this first chance to speak to you all. From the first of this month, I have had the privilege of taking on the role of…

On the 4th of January, representatives from DfE and NHS England visited Somerset to review the area’s progress in the delivery of its Accelerated Progress Plan (APP). The APP was implemented following the OFSTED/CQC inspection a year ago, which judged…

We’ve been hearing a lot from people about how important it is to have face to face support and the opportunity to connect with others who understand your struggles.  Over the last six months we have been expanding and enhancing…

Save the dates! Somerset SEND’s Local Offer Live is taking to the road and will be coming to a town near you! Burnham – Monday 4th March, 10am -2pm Yeovil- Tuesday 5th March, 5pm – 7pm Minehead -Wednesday 5th March,…

The Somerset Parent Carer Forum have created a range of fantastic workshops based on topics parents have expressed would be helpful – Workshops for Information, Support and Education (WISE). All the workshops are delivered or co-delivered by someone with lived experience of…

Somerset Council are asking people to have their say on the proposed changes to admission arrangements for Somerset schools from the academic year 2025 to 2026. Admissions arrangements can include catchment area boundaries, published admission numbers and the criteria used…

Schools and Colleges can enable their young people to participate in the biggest democratic ballot and help platform youth voice. This years Make Your Mark ballot for young people aged 11-18 years goes live from Monday 29th January to Friday…

What is the Inclusion Advice Line? The Inclusion Advice Line (IAL) is to there to help with any queries or concerns in relation to SEND, Children Looked After, or school attendance. They can be general queries and concerns, or specific…

Concerned about a pupil? Need early help for a pupil or their family? If so, your Team Around the School could help. Your Team Around the School can help you get help quickly. Just pick up the phone and talk…

An invitation for SENCOs and SEND leads to attend a listening event to gather feedback about the delivery of the provision specified in Education Health and Care plans. As part of the improvement work following the joint Ofsted and CQC…

Below are two important updates from Inclusion SEN Support Services. School Entry Planning (SEP) Review – SENCO and Parent feedback forms We hope that the Early Years Foundation Stage children with special educational needs have settled well at school and…

The Community Inclusion and Activity Team’s (CIA Team) February Half Term Calendar is available! There are a host of activities to keep everyone busy over half term Please check out the varied activities for children with disabilities and additional needs,…

Place2Be lead on Children’s Mental Health Week and the theme for this year is – Express Yourself – My Voice Matters! Public Health have developed this resource bulletin offering ideas for hearing the voice and views of children and young…

Easy to follow online modules enable children to learn English or over 120 other languages – all for free with a Somerset library membership! Children can now access up to 120 language learning modules via the Transparent Languages Online ‘Kidspeak’…

Somerset Youth Forum is inviting all young people in Somerset aged 10-18 years (or up to 25 years with SEND) to a special session to discuss what young people need to have a happy and healthy childhood in Somerset. The…

Measles is a highly infectious disease, spreading quickly from person to person, especially in schools. A child with measles will infect almost all unprotected children they have contact with. Measles can be a very serious disease, leading to ear and…

Hello and welcome to the December issue of the SEND Newsletter! This month felt like a perfect opportunity for me to introduce myself. I am Nathan Jones, and I joined Somerset on the 1st of November as Strategic Manager Inclusion…