Children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Gloucestershire will have access to more help in their local schools and communities as changes to SEND support are introduced.
The changes aim to make it easier for children and young people to get the right help earlier, with more specialist support available closer to home. Where appropriate, this will help more children stay in their local mainstream school, learning alongside their friends and being part of their local community.
The changes are part of the Government’s proposed Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms which will be introduced in phases between 2026 and 2029.
Gloucestershire County Council is working with schools, colleges, early years providers, health and care partners, the Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum, children, young people and families to shape and deliver the changes.
During the first year, the focus will be on putting the foundations in place for improved support. This includes:
- Growing the specialist workforce, so children and young people can get the right support earlier.
- Giving schools easier access to specialist advice and support from professionals linked directly to their school, including educational psychologists, speech and language therapists and specialist teachers through ‘Experts at Hand’.
- Supporting more schools to develop Inclusion Bases, giving children who need extra help access to specialist support while remaining part of their school community.
- Introducing more Specialist Bases locally, providing additional support for children and young people with more complex needs, closer to home.
- Improving information and guidance for families, so parents and carers can understand the changes and the support available.
Cllr Linda Cohen, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Every child should have the opportunity to learn, make friends and feel part of their local community.
“These changes are about bringing more support closer to children and families. We want more children and young people with SEND to be able to get the help they need in their local school and community, alongside their friends and peers.
“By giving schools easier access to specialist expertise and developing more support within mainstream education, we can help children get the right support earlier.
“We’re working closely with families, schools and our partners to make these changes successfully and build a more inclusive SEND system across Gloucestershire.”
Families and education professionals are encouraged to stay informed as the reforms are introduced by signing up to the council’s SEND newsletter ‘SEND Families in Partnership’.