More young people in Wokingham Borough with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) need access to our services and we need you to shape how we support them. The council is drafting its SEND strategy to for the next three years, setting out how we will improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND, and their families. The consultation is now open to feedback on the proposals.
The draft strategy has been developed in partnership with our strategic partners, including SEND Voices Wokingham, the borough’s parent-carer forum. The strategy and action plan within it set out the areas identified so far for improvement and development, as well as some of the strengths to build on
Priority areas we are aiming to address with the new strategy include:
- building local provision
- improving the efficiency and effectiveness of how we work
- embedding real coproduction in planning and delivery
- improving our use of data and intelligence and measuring impact on outcomes for children and young people with SEND, their families and the people who care for them
The action plan includes actions to improve early intervention, drive more effective information sharing to help children and young people with SEND and their families, closer and more effective communication with parents and carers, improved transport provision and better transition services for young people into adulthood.
“Thank you to all the charities, voluntary groups, parents, carers and young people who have helped us to shape our plans so far, now we need feedback on our formal proposals,” said Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services. “Ensuring we meet the needs for children and young people growing up in our borough with SEND is a challenge we are looking to address by providing the services and support they need to thrive.
“We have invested in Addington School to increase places for SEND pupils within the borough and have plans in place for a new special school in Winnersh alongside the Department for Education and Brighter Futures for Children, which will help even more young people get the education they need closer to home.”
Residents can visit our website to complete the consultation, which is open until 31 January.
