Measles is one of the most highly communicable infectious diseases and can cause severe illness, especially in certain at-risk groups including babies and small children, pregnant people, and those with weak immunity. There has been a recent increase in measles…

It must be Christmas — that made me sit back and reflect recently with a sense of nostalgia. We knew in 2003, when we were setting up the Every Child Matters policy in Government, that the legislation for children with…

We can’t believe how quickly 2024 has gone by! We’ve enjoyed having visitors at our usual meeting venue, we’ve attended the Family Funday and worked through our 2024 priorities with some highlights of that work being the Childhood to Adulthood…

It’s hard to believe we are already at the closing stages of 2024, and what a busy year it has been. This year has seen the launch of our Let’s Talk SEND and Inclusion events which go alongside our monthly…

Statutory timescales continue over the holiday period and due to this we will need to continue to send consultations to settings over the Christmas break. We recognise that continuing to send consultations over holiday periods can cause worry. In recognition…

As the countdown to Christmas continues, Young Somerset wanted to share some of the amazing things their team has been up to. Even though the year is coming to an end, the Young Somerset team continues to support young people…

Imogen was struggling with her mental health which led to her being admitted to hospital. She was also struggling with school, anxiety, feeling low and friendships. Following a referral to Young Somerset’s Jigsaw Project she worked with a youth worker…

‘Tis the season to come to libraries! There are lots of free activities for children, parents and carers over the Christmas break and a whole range of resources to access. Lego Clubs, Code Clubs, Nintendo Switch sessions are all available…

Organised by the charity Coram Voice, Voices is the only creative writing competition specifically for care experienced children and young people. It provides a unique platform for them to showcase their creativity, celebrate their talents and shine a light on…

The Somerset Sustainable Futures Initiative was launched on Tuesday, 26th November, at Taunton Rugby Football Club with students from primary and secondary schools across Somerset gathering to learn about green skills and future career opportunities. They had the chance to…

Winter can be a difficult time and Somerset partners are here to help. We’ve listed some of the most popular services and support that could help families you work with over the holiday season. #Help4All is part of the Connect…

There’s a lot in the news at the moment about how the SEND system across the country is in a terrible state. The hope is that the new Government will announce significant and impactful steps to improve it, so the…

A recent initiative to improve accessibility for a child with visual impairment in a primary school setting has been a great success! Following the presentation of a proposal to the School Access Initiative (SAI) panel, the group approved the project…

This month some of our Inclusion Champions visited Holyrood Academy in Chard to view the Enhanced Learning Provision (ELP). An ELP sits within a mainstream secondary school and delivers tailored and high-quality teaching to pupils with SEND who are working…

The Somerset Parent Carer Forum (SPCF) have created a range of fantastic workshops based on topics parents have expressed would be helpful – Workshops for Information, Support and Education (WISE). All the workshops are delivered or co-delivered by someone with lived experience of…

Please find inclusive activities calendar for the Christmas Holidays attached from the Community Inclusion Activity Team. It is full of fun activities for children and young people who have a disability and/or additional need. Activities include candlelit celebrations, festive holiday…

The Local Authority (LA) has decided to stop using the Valuing SEND Somerset Inclusion Tool (SIT). Over the past year, more than 220 schools used the SIT to assess how ready they are to support students with special needs. Many…

Earlier this month, the annual Somerset Supported Employment Conference took place at Taunton Rugby Club.  Supported Employment is a personalised approach to help people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities into real jobs, where they can fulfil their employment aspirations…

Somerset is one of the areas who are involved in the pilot of PINS funded by NHS England and the Department for Education. We have 39 schools taking part each receiving a 37.5 hour package of tailored support. All the…

Being a school governor is a challenging and rewarding role. As education professionals, you could bring valuable insight to another school while gaining experience of school leadership and governance that will support your professional development. Typically, boards meet every half…