Welcome to the latest edition of SEND News, this week we wanted to give you an update on the outcomes of the recent Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) local area re-visit.   Inspectors visited Somerset in late 2022 to understand…

We have over 100 early years practitioners signed up on courses already – fantastic!   This is just under 4% of all our early years practitioners. Let’s see if we can reach 10% by the end of the spring term!  …

SENCos can directly refer children and young people for an Autism and/or ADHD assessment. All the information needed for this process can be found on Somerset’s SEND Local Offer website. The guidance on the Local Offer has recently been updated…

This February Somerset Parent Carer Forum relaunch their support groups. Having listened to parents we have added some new locations in Street and Taunton along with a stay and play group in Yeovil.   The support groups will now be called Chill…

Unstoppables update The team are very busy preparing for our first meeting of 2023 and we’re very excited to see our members, continuing their fantastic work into this new year. Keep your eyes peeled for our next update from our…

Welcome to the latest edition of SEND News. This is a very exciting term for me as I take up my new role within the Local Authority as Strategic Manager for Inclusion Transformation and Partnerships. I thought it would be…

NHS Somerset is asking people to share their views on the Integrated Care Strategy (ICS) and Five Year Plan. The aim of the plan is to ensure that people in Somerset live healthy lives, supported by thriving communities with timely…

Wednesday 22 February 2023, 4:15pm – 6:30pm, online Free – fully subsidised by Sound Foundation Somerset Inviting SENCOs and those working within SEND settings in Somerset to share and develop creative approaches to support their learners. Designed to help teachers…

Audience: Early years Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators, voluntary and independent early years settings. An essential training course for both Early Years Practitioners new to the SENCo role and experienced Early Years SENCos wishing to update their knowledge and skills.  Practitioners…

We would like to invite professionals to the first Trauma Informed Somerset Network Launch Event on 24 January 2023. Follow this link for more information and the agenda for the event. Trauma Informed Practice is an approach to public services…

The first meeting of 2023 for the Unstoppables is fast approaching. The meeting will be on Saturday 4 February in Yeovil, and we already have a big agenda – which we’re super excited to start back up, but for now…

Purple Elephant Family Support is a small charity based in Frome which delivers support to families facing challenges in their lives and has an accessibility focus. Our services include running family activities during school holidays, which often appear in the CIAT Activities…

The first regional ‘Internships Work‘ network meeting took place in December. Internships Work is a new project which will enable 4500 young adults, aged 16-25 with additional needs, to benefit from a supported internship per year by 2025.   There are…

Is 2023 the year you want to try something new? We know when the new year rings in resolutions are made. Perhaps yours could be becoming an Unstoppables member or sharing this with children and young people with SEND who…

Somerset County Council has proposed changes to catchment areas and admissions criteria for Somerset schools.  The council are giving people the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes, which can be found on our live consultation. Anyone can comment –…

Following simple steps can help protect children, minimise the spread of illness in education and childcare settings and protect wider communities.  Flu and coronavirus (COVID-19) are currently circulating at high levels and are likely to continue to increase in coming weeks. High…

Hello everyone and happy new year! Welcome to this edition of SEND News. Engagement and working with children and young people with SEND and their families is one of the most important things that we can do to improve people’s…