Posted on Friday 30th June 2023
Support for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Staffordshire is set to be enhanced as part of new plans.
The new strategy aims to address the special educational needs of children and young people with complex additional needs, emphasising the importance of inclusive education within local mainstream schools.
The Strategy for Special Provision, one of the key proposals aims to ensure that children and young people with SEND receive the necessary support to achieve their full potential.
It also recognises the need to enhance and support mainstream schools' strategies to meet the diverse needs of children and young people, while simultaneously increasing capacity in special schools.
Staffordshire's vision centres on providing all children and young people with SEND the opportunity to achieve their potential through the right support from parents/carers, the community, and professionals.
The county has seen a significant increase in the overall SEND population, with 16 per cent of children in Staffordshire schools currently requiring SEN Support or having an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
The proposed plans include the creation of additional provision in Staffordshire’s special schools, focusing on social emotional mental health needs (SEMH) and Autism, the introduction of local SEND District Inclusion teams to provide enhanced support to mainstream educational settings, and putting support in place earlier for children and young people that need it without the need to wait for a formal diagnosis.
Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND) said:
Our goal is to provide every child and young person in Staffordshire with the best start in life and the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
These proposals mark a significant step towards achieving that vision. By increasing support within mainstream schools and creating additional provision in special schools, we are working to ensure that children with SEND receive the tailored support they need in their local communities.”
Over the last six weeks, these proposals have been shared as part of a formal consultation. More than 400 participants have shared their thoughts on the proposals, ranging from parents, carers, health care professionals, schools, and colleges.
The proposals will also be discussed by the Prosperous Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 6, 2023.
Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND) said:
We are carefully considered the valuable feedback received during the public consultation and are confident that these initiatives will result in positive outcomes for our children and their families."
The consultation closes on 5th July 2023. People can read more about the proposals and share their thoughts here