Meet Beth – SEND Local Offer Lead

Hello, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Beth, and I am the new SEND Local Offer Lead. I will be working closely with children, young people, families and services to ensure that our SEND Local Offer provides clear, accessible and up-to-date information about the support available for children and young people with SEND. It is a particularly exciting time to join the team as we begin work on the redevelopment of the BCP SEND Local Offer website during the Autumn term. I am really looking forward to working with you, meeting many of you over the coming months and sharing updates about the progress we make together.

Meet Rachel – Supporting Families Through the EHCNA Process

Hello all. My name is Rachel and I work within the SEND Team, primarily supporting the Care element of the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment process. I liaise with families if they have received a Yes to Assess decision and provide information about what to expect. From September we will be organising face-to-face information sessions, coffee mornings and SEND surgeries across BCP. I am looking forward to meeting families and helping make the EHCNA process less daunting.

What is an EHCNA?

EHCNA = Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment

An EHCNA is the process used to determine whether a child or young person requires an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

The assessment gathers information from families, education settings, health professionals and social care services to understand a child or young person's needs and identify the support required to help them achieve their outcomes.

If an EHCNA is agreed, professionals will work together with families to consider whether an EHCP is needed.

What is an EHCCO?

EHCCO stands for Education, Health and Care Co-ordinator.

Your EHCCO is responsible for coordinating and supporting your child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). They work closely with families, schools and professionals throughout different stages of the EHCP process.

When should I contact my EHCCO?

You may wish to contact your EHCCO if you:

• Have questions about your child's EHCP.
• Need information about annual reviews.
• Want an update regarding an assessment or plan.
• Need support understanding SEND processes.
• Discuss the school named in the EHCP ( Education Health and Care Plan)

How do I find my EHCCO?

Information about EHCCOs, including contact details and team information, can be found on the SEND Local Offer website. 

We are excited to promote our new SEND Voice Panel, a group created for young people with SEND aged 11–24 to share their views, experiences and ideas. Young people will help shape improvements across SEND services, contribute to debates, help review and reshape the SEND Local Offer, participate in consultations and ensure their voices help drive change across BCP.

Looking for activities during the summer holidays?

The SEND Local Offer includes information about:

• Holiday activities
• Short breaks
• Leisure opportunities
• Support groups
• Community activities
• Family services available across BCP

We encourage families to visit the SEND Local Offer regularly for the latest information and support available throughout the summer period. Home

Our SEND Family Drop-ins offer a welcoming opportunity to discuss SEND-related concerns, meet members of the SEND team and learn more about processes and support available. Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you.

Redhill Café, Redhill Park, Bournemouth, BH9 2SW

BCP support the ADHD/ASD support group, a very friendly group whose members have lots of experience of ASD and ADHD, come along and have a chat. The café also has some delicious food and drinks.

ARC Somerford, 20 Southey Rd, Christchurch BH23 3EH

SENDIASS, PCT ( Parent Carers Together) CAB (Citizen Advice Bureau) and other support agencies also attend, the ARC also supply a free breakfast. You would be most welcome.

New 2027 drop-in dates will be published shortly. We are also expanding our drop-ins across Bournemouth and Poole. Everyone is welcome to come along and discuss any SEND issues or concerns. We look forward to seeing you.

Who are Parent Carers Together?

Parent Carers Together (PCT) is the official Parent Carer Forum for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The forum is run by parent carers, for parent carers, and works to ensure that the voices and experiences of families with children and young people with SEND are heard by local services and decision-makers.

PCT works closely with BCP Council, health services, schools and other organisations to help shape and improve services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

How can PCT support you?

Parent Carers Together offers a range of support and opportunities for families, including:

• Providing information and signposting to local services and support.
• Creating opportunities to connect with other parent carers.
• Gathering feedback from families to influence local SEND services.
• Supporting co-production by ensuring parent carers are involved in decisions that affect children and young people with SEND.
• Sharing updates on consultations, developments and changes across SEND services.
• Hosting events, workshops and engagement activities for families.

Why get involved?

By sharing your experiences and views, you can help improve services for children and young people with SEND across BCP. Whether your experiences have been positive or challenging, your voice matters and can help shape future developments.

Parent Carers Together welcomes all parent carers and is always keen to hear from families about what is working well and where improvements are needed.

Find out more

To learn more about Parent Carers Together, upcoming events and opportunities to get involved, visit their website and social media channels, or look out for information shared through the SEND Local Offer and future editions of SEND Family News. www.parentcarerstogether.org.uk

Your voice is vital in helping us improve SEND services across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

We want to hear about:

✅ What's working well

✅ What could be improved

✅ Your experiences of SEND services

✅ Ideas for future developments

You can share your views through:

• Parent Carers Together
• SEND Family Drop-ins
• SENDIASS4BCP SENDiass4BCP - SENDiass4BCP

Every piece of feedback helps us continue to improve services for children, young people and families.