SEND Family News
Welcome to our first SEND Family News update.
Local SEND Reform and Our Vision for SEND
“We belong. We’re listened to. We can thrive.”
This is the vision we’ve created together with children, young people, families and practitioners. It will guide our work over the next three years.
Over the last two months we have been working on our Local SEND Reform Plan in BCP. All local authorities have been asked to create these plans with partners such as schools and health services, setting out how we will deliver SEND Reform locally over the next three years.
We’ve developed this plan through co-production, working closely with:
- children and young people
- parents and carers
- practitioners – including SENCOs, school leaders, childminders and nurseries, colleges, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists.
- Parent Carers Together (PCT) - who gathered and shared the views and experiences of parents.
What we heard from you
Children and young people told us they want schools to feel more welcoming and inclusive, with flexibility in how they learn.
“We want schools to be accepting, welcoming and supporting so that everyone has the same experience in every school.”
Parents and carers told us they want their children to feel safe, understood and included. They also shared how important it is that support is based on individual needs, and that communication is clear and honest.
We heard very strongly that communication needs to improve - that’s why we’re introducing this update.
If there’s something you’d like us to include, you can always get in touch.
Let us know by emailing sendbso@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Improving the SEND Local Offer
We’ve started redesigning the SEND Local Offer to make it easier to use and more helpful for families.
The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole SEND Local Offer - BCP Council).
We know from your feedback that the current website isn’t currently working as well as it could be for parents and carers, and that children and young people don’t tend to use it much at all.
Our aim is to create a simpler, more useful and more welcoming space, where you can quickly find the information you need.
We will be designing this together with families and children and young people.
If you’d like to be involved, we would really value your input. Let us know by emailing sendbso@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
The Graduated Approach to Inclusion
What is the Graduated Approach?
The Graduated Approach is how schools and settings support children step by step, based on their needs. In practice, this means support can be put in place early, reviewed regularly, and adjusted as needed. It also means children can get help without needing to wait for a diagnosis.
Our online resource
We’ve developed an online resource to support schools and settings in putting the graduated approach into practice.
https://www.bcp-gati.com/
The site offers clear, practical guidance on how needs are identified, supported and reviewed. It’s designed to help everyone feel more confident and skilled in supporting children and young people.
It provides clear guidance on the SEND graduated approach, while also helping you to understand how your child’s needs can be identified, supported, and reviewed within their setting or school.
Support for families
There is also a dedicated Family Resources section: Family resources | BCP GATI
This section brings together clear and practical information to help you:
- understand SEND support
- learn how the graduated approach works
- see what inclusive practice looks like in schools and settings
With helpful guidance and easy-to-use tools, it empowers families to feel confident, informed, and actively involved in their child’s journey.
One parent shared:
“The website helped me finally understand the process and feel more confident speaking with school about my son’s support.”
Scan the QR code to access the platform on your mobile device.
Have your say through PCT
To find out more or get involved visit - Voluntary Opportunities – Parent Carers Together