Have your say on Sheffield services for children with special educational needs

Sheffield families, schools and services are being asked to help shape support for children and young people with special educational needs.
Sheffield families protesting for better SEND support services two years agoSheffield families protesting for better SEND support services two years ago
Sheffield families protesting for better SEND support services two years ago

Sheffield City Council, NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group and Sheffield’s Parent Carer Forum have worked together to draft a new city-wide Inclusion Strategy to describe how they will meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

In Sheffield more than 12,000 school-aged children have special educational needs, equating to just over 16% of the school population.

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The consultation period, which has been extended to January 26 after running in November and December, asks for feedback on a draft strategy.

Dr Terry Hudsen, local GP and c hair of the NHS group, said: “December is such a busy time for everyone so we are extending the consultation so we can hear from as many people as possible.

“We’re particularly keen to hear from families, schools and people who work in children and young people’s services as they are best placed to help us shape our priorities for children with SEND.

“We would also be happy to come and visit your group or meeting if you want to have a discussion and feedback face to face.”

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The strategy will run for five years and set the priorities for how Sheffield supports its children and young people with additional needs.

It has been developed from the views of over 800 people including two surveys, young people taking part in discussion groups and feedback from people who attended co-production sessions. The strategy will be finalised after the consultation.

Dr Hudsen said: “Feedback from children, young people and their families made it clear that we can do better in making sure they are at the centre of all decision making and that services meet their needs in a timely and co-ordinated manner.

“The aspiration across Sheffield is to change the way we work so that we act early to identify, assess and meet people’s needs, to work in partnership with each other and to establish integrated and local services that make Sheffield an inclusive city.”

Have your say at www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/schools-childcare/inclusion-consultation.