It is important that parent carers and SEND practitioners have access to information and support to help them navigate the SEND system. Accessible information and support help parent carers to get involved in decision making both at an individual and strategic level. Ensuring that families and practitioners have a shared understand and expectation of how the SEND system works, helps build positive relationships and delivers better outcomes for everyone.
There are several organizations and resources that are there specifically to support this shared understanding to develop. If you need support and advice about a SEND issue the information in this section, could be of help to you.
The Herefordshire SEND Local Offer provides information and support for children and young people with
special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Here are some key resources:
- You can find support services and activities available for children and young people with SEND on the
Herefordshire Council’s Local Offer website. - For local activities and groups, check the SEND Local Offer Facebook page maintained by Herefordshire
Council. - If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can email localoffer@herefordshire.gov.uk for assistance.
For more detailed information, visit the Herefordshire Council’s Local Offer page.
https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/localoffer.
Please Click the images for direct links to the associated website.
Additional Resources
Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in School (PINS)
Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in School (PINS)
Preparing for Adulthood
Preparing for Adulthood
Preparing for Adulthood is a process that all young people go through when they move on from being a teenager and become an adult. It can be an exciting time but it has also been recognised that this can be a very difficult time for some young people, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).The information contained in this section will help you to find out what support, services or information may be available to help you and your family prepare for this important stage of your life.
The journey into adulthood
If a young person has an EHC Plan, schools have to start the formal preparing for adulthood process from Year 9 (aged 13/14), which will be the planning for your child’s move to further education, employment or training. This means they will invite you, your child and any other professionals involved
with your child to a Year 9 Preparing for Adulthood Review meeting.
Children are supported in advance of the review in order for them to fully understand and maximise the potential opportunity of this review so they are able to make an informed contribution. Preparation will explore what is important to the child now and for the future, how to support them best and to find out what their aspirations are. From this meeting transition planning must be written into the revised EHC plan, including how any educational, health and social care needs will be met. This will include details about planning for the transition from school to further education, training or employment and where relevant, transition arrangements from children’s to adult’s social care and health care services. The EHC Plan will be reviewed every 12 months and any appropriate changes will be made following the review. In Years 10, and 11 the school is responsible for identifying EHC Plan review dates and the person in the school who will be the lead, e.g. the designated Teacher or SENCo. The school is also responsible for circulating invitations to all key stakeholders.
For more information about this process speak to your school SENCo or see the Herefordshire Local Offer website
The Department for Education have developed an outcomes tool that is designed to support the development of PfA outcomes in EHC plans across the age range. It explores the key indicators for preparing for adulthood at different ages and stages of development. Download a copy of the tool here.
Please download this handy information booklet for future reference .
PREPARING FOR ADULTHOOD INFO SHEET.docx
Preparing for Adulthood: All Tools & Resources – NDTi
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Send Inspections
Introduction to Local Area SEND Inspections
All Local Areas in England are jointly inspected by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQQ) to monitor the implementation of the SEND reforms and the delivery of positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The inspection team focus on the following key areas:
• How effectively the local area identifies children and young people who have SEND.
• How effectively the local area meets the needs and improves the outcomes of children and young people with SEND.
• The effectiveness of the local area on improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND (0 to 25).
Inspectors evaluate how education, health and social care services work together in the best interests of children and young people; how services work together to support transition to adulthood and how effectively the local area considers the views of children and young people who have SEND and their families in planning provision.
Following the inspection, Ofsted and CQC will publish a report in the form of an outcome letter. This report will outline a summary of their findings, including key strengths and areas requiring further development
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Parent support and children and young people activities services directory
If you have an urgent situation impacting your family, you may want to consider contacting the following organisations.
Herefordshire Send Information, Advice & Support Service
Telephone Enquiries :01432 260955
Contact Listening Ear Service
LOOK is a small local charity which connects and supports visually impaired children, young people and their families. https://www.look-uk.org/
Herefordshire Branch of the National Autistic Society offer a range of support and activities for autistic people of all ages and their families.
https://nas-herefordshire.co.uk/
PEGS
PEGS is a social enterprise set up to support parents, carers and guardians who are experiencing Child to Parent Abuse (including those with adult offspring). https://www.pegsupport.co.uk/#Home-supportforparents
ERIC is the national charity dedicated to improving children’s bowel and bladder health. https://eric.org.uk/
21 Plus here to provide support for family members, carers, friends, and professionals, supporting children and young people with Down’s syndrome. https://21plus.org.uk/
Challenging Behaviour Foundation – the charity provides information and support to families and professionals caring for individuals with severe learning disabilities who are described as having challenging behaviour. Lots of free resources are available at www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk. You can also contact the on 0300 666 0126..
PANS PANDAS UK is the only UK charity supporting children and families living with these conditions. We provide information, and community support to patients and carers. We also contribute to health service development and influence policy. This includes raising awareness of the symptoms, and supporting the development of treatment options for healthcare professionals. We provide training in educational settings so that families and children living with these conditions receive the support they so desperately need.