Consultation on new SEND vision for Lincolnshire

The Building Communities of Specialist Provision strategy will address many of the challenges pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families face when trying to access the right education, in the right place at the right time.

Our special schools offer high quality education to all pupils, but if children arrive at school tired and stressed after a long journey, it can seriously affect their ability to learn.

If they arrive home after a long journey, tired and stressed, it will have an impact on family time and similarly, if a child has to attend a specialist residential school, family relationships may be impacted.

We want to tackle these issues and see things improve for children and their families. We believe this strategy can make this happen.

The strategy will:

• Address the challenges pupils with SEND and their families face in accessing the right education.
• Reduce the length of journeys to school for pupils with SEND by ensuring all special schools can meet all types of need and disability, so pupils can go to their nearest school.
• Enhance provision through investment in schools, so that all pupils have equal access to the facilities needed to meet their needs. We are proposing to build facilities for pupils with complex physical disabilities in all special schools so they can be educated in their nearest school and develop more sensory and therapeutic spaces in all schools so all pupils can access these facilities.
• Through investment, ensure there are enough school places to meet the growing demand and for pupils to be able to attend their nearest school, or one in their locality. It’s likely some schools will be expanded and a new school will be built.
• See all professionals work closely together to ensure our special schools have the right type of health and social care support to meet the needs of all pupils.
• Develop satellites of special schools on some mainstream school sites so pupils with SEND will have the opportunity to access mainstream experiences and curriculum, supported by the nurturing environment of their special school.
• Provide opportunities for children to return to mainstream, through these satellites.
• Support pupils with SEND to be able to access a special school closer to home, rather than them being educated outside of Lincolnshire.
• Develop stronger relationships between special and mainstream schools so that pupils with SEND can be educated in mainstream school - teaching staff will be given access to the expert knowledge of special school staff.

No child will be forced to change school if parents don’t want them to. However, with only 30% of pupils with SEND currently attending their nearest school, we want children to have the chance to attend a school in their local community if that is what parents want.

In summary, this strategy proposes to make significant changes to our existing special schools, creating a joined up system where pupils can attend their nearest school in the confidence their educational and health needs can be fully met. Pupils will have full access to a curriculum which is appropriate for their learning needs where teaching staff can support all pupils with SEND. Children educated in their local communities can develop close friendship bonds with their classmates both in and out of school.

We really need your feedback on these exciting proposals so please take time to read the strategy information attached and provide us with your comments via our online survey or at one of our consultation events.

COMPLETE SEND CONSULTATION

COMPLETE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SEND CONSULTATION

Special School Consultation Events

Open to parents/carers and families with children at the school or professionals/others who are associated with the school. All those attending will find out details of what the new proposals will mean for the school and have the opportunity to comment and provide feedback.

Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum Independent Consultation Events

Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum is hosting a series of independent events where representatives from local special schools and Children’s Services will be able to answer questions about the strategy and how this may impact on parents/carers, families and their children. Attendance at these events require advanced booking – got to www.lincspcf.org.uk.

Lincolnshire County Council Public Consultation Events

Lincolnshire County Council is hosting three open public meetings where the proposed strategy and model will be outlined by representatives from Children’s Services and local special school head teachers. Those attending will have the opportunity to ask questions and comment on the proposals.