Do you have questions around SEND and Inclusion? Do you want to share your views on how things are working for your child?
We are delighted to announce the first of our three Let’s Talk SEND & Inclusion events for this year, taking place on June 11th, 2024 (see below for future event dates). This event is for parent carers and practitioners in Somerset and will be run face-to-face and online. Find out more at Let’s Talk About SEND and Inclusion.
How can I attend?
Face to Face Event: You can join in by attending our face-face session between 10am and 2pm at Cheddar Community Pavilion. Please note that Tea and Coffee will be provided, but you will need to bring lunch with you. You can book a space via the form: https://forms.office.com/e/f29GUYweqy.
Online Event: This will be held between 7 and 9pm. You can sign up for sessions using Let’s Talk About SEND and Inclusion online, or by using the links in the bullets below.
What will be covered?
The events will include a range of information and opportunities to share your views on SEND and Inclusion topics:
Connect Somerset: A partnership involving Somerset Council, NHS, and various community organizations. Discuss how it can benefit you. The session will be run by Laura Annandale, Programme Manager – Connect Somerset for Somerset Council.
EHCP process: Explore what’s working and what needs improvement in the process of creating Education, Health, and Care Plans. The session will be run by Claire Merchant-Jones, Strategic Manager, Head of SEND for Somerset Council.
Supporting parents: Address challenges faced by parents of children with SEND and evaluate the support they receive. The session will be run by Amelia Walker, Service Director Education, Partnerships & Skills for Somerset Council.
Learning Support Assistants: Discuss using Learning Support Assistants for direct payment work outside of school. The session will be run by Louise Palmer, Strategic Commissioner Children’s Services for Somerset Council.
Somerset’s SEND Local Offer platform: Share feedback on what works and what improvements you’d like to see. The session will be run by Gemma Pickford-Waugh, Local Offer Co-ordinator for Somerset Council.
Funding support: Consider whether schools should receive funding for children with SEND without an EHCP. The session will be run by Amelia Walker, Service Director Education, Partnerships & Skills for Somerset Council.
Evaluate the effectiveness of existing feedback mechanisms: The session will be run by Samantha Baker, Comms and Engagement lead for Somerset Council.
The event will also include Somerset’s Local Offer live event. This brings together information stalls from a range of providers including, Community Inclusion and Activity Team, The Unstoppables, Somerset Parent Carer Forum, SENDIAS, Healthwatch, The Space, BIBIC, Autism Somerset,Autism Central, ARK at Egwood, Ups and Downs Southwest, In the Mix Project, Beacon NeuroConnect, Nova Sports and Coaching.
Save the Dates!
We are running a further two events to bring together parent carers and practitioners in Somerset to talk about SEND and Inclusion. Please see the dates below and add them to your diaries – more information to be released in due course.
24 October 2024, Taunton St Andrews Church
25 March 2025, Wincanton Memorial Hall
For more information on any of the events, please email admin@somersetparentcarerforum.org.uk or visit www.somerset.gov.uk/somersets-local-offer-live-week.
