This page shows a summary of some changes based on feedback. They are in response to the views of:
- children,
- young people,
- parents / carers, and
- professionals.
Views have been, and continue to be, gathered in various ways. This includes:
- surveys / consultations,
- in-person at events and presentations,
- during meetings, and
- via email.
To find out how you can contribute towards the future of our services, by:
We have worked on the following areas during 2025:
You Said: We want a more accessible Local OfferLocal OfferA local authority website resource that holds information on services and provision for children and young people with SEN and disabilities across education, health and social care and leisure., regularly updated with easy-to-read information
We Did:
- We produced a Local OfferLocal OfferA local authority website resource that holds information on services and provision for children and young people with SEN and disabilities across education, health and social care and leisure. digital poster and paper leaflet with a QR code. This made is easier to signpost residents to the information available. We distribute these leaflets at outreach events.
- The SEND Local OfferLocal OfferA local authority website resource that holds information on services and provision for children and young people with SEN and disabilities across education, health and social care and leisure. Lead was brought into the SEND Service to support better joined up working. A termly action plan is in place to make sure actions are based on what users are telling us.
- We have identified priorities for the SEND Local OfferLocal OfferA local authority website resource that holds information on services and provision for children and young people with SEN and disabilities across education, health and social care and leisure. based on what users tell us. These priorities are: Accessibility, awareness, content, engagement, and feedback.
- To keep information up to date service leads, oversee their areas on the Local OfferLocal OfferA local authority website resource that holds information on services and provision for children and young people with SEN and disabilities across education, health and social care and leisure..
You Said: We want more information about the EHCEHCEducation, Health and Care Needs assessment process at the beginning.
We Did:
- An email is now sent to every family where the Local AuthorityLocal AuthoritySometimes known as the council, a local authority is an organisation that is officially responsible for public services and facilities in a particular area. agrees to assess. This email signposts to the Local offer along with other links that may be helpful for families.
- We have also included a link to the EHCEHCEducation, Health and Care AssessmentAssessment Measures children and young people’s learning and development and identifies additional needs. timeline in our letters to parent/carers.
You Said: We want more opportunities to meet and talk to the SEND Service.
We Did:
- A SEND Communications and Standards charter is in place and outlines our commitment to clear communication, and what we expect within our service.
You Said: We want better co production with parent/carer groups, parent/carers, children and young people.
We Did:
- In 2023, we developed Our Co-Production Pledge, which was our vision is that children, young people with SEND and their parent carers are empowered, valued and supported to meaningfully participate in improving services. This is currently being updated in 2025.
- A new post, Co Production & Engagement Officer, was recruited to. It was created to better understand the lived experience of parent / carers, children and young people who have experience of SEND and SEND processes. To ensure their voices are heard and embedded into our SEND processes.
- Monthly oversight groups are held to discuss co production topics and projects. These meetings are attended by health, Children’s Services, Local OfferLocal OfferA local authority website resource that holds information on services and provision for children and young people with SEN and disabilities across education, health and social care and leisure. Lead, our Youth Representative, SENDIASSSENDIASSSpecial Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service and parent/carer support groups. These meetings also discuss feedback and issues from the families they support and to work collaboratively to change outcomes and information for those families
- The Co production and Engagement Officer and our Youth Champion are visiting local mainstream colleges, specialist-maintained Post 16 provisions and independent Specialist settings. The aim of these visits are to promote Youth Champions, talk directly with our young people to hear their views and understand their lived experience in the stability and security of their familiar surroundings.
You Said: We want children and young people to have more autonomy over their EHCPs and decision making.
We Did:
- We have improved communication channels directly with young people as the decision-maker for their EHCPEHCPA legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life., including a new consent and communications preference form and statutory letters written and issued to the young person.
- We have updated the young person’s contribution to the EHCPEHCPA legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life. Annual review paperwork, with the format being more age appropriate than previous forms.
You Said: We want BCP to have a stronger focus on preparing for adulthood.
We Did:
- Our PFA Strategy outlines our priorities and outcomes, to provide a framework for all services in BCP Council, our partners across Health, Communities and the voluntary sector, to support young people and their families to Prepare for Adulthood.
- A Post 16 SEND Panel was established where Post 16 practitioners come together to make statutory decisions on young people.
- A Post 16 Statutory AssessmentAssessment Measures children and young people’s learning and development and identifies additional needs. and Review team was created. Within this team are EHCCOs, assistant EHCCOs and a PFA Engagement Lead.
- We published new Annual ReviewAnnual ReviewThe review of an Education, Health and Care Plan that a local authority must undertake within 12 months of issuing an EHCPEHCPA legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life. or from the previous review. paperwork with a stronger emphasis on PFA.
You Said: We want parent/carers, children and young people to have a stronger voice and impact on SEND Services.
We Did:
- Our Annual SEND Survey was established in 2021 to gain feedback from parent/carers and young people.
- We include lived experience work activities within the SEND System. A monthly activity takes place where QA Officers contact a sample size of parent/carers to understand their experience of the EHCEHCEducation, Health and Care Needs assessment process.
You Said: We want services for children, young people and families to improve.
We Did:
- Our BCP SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan sets out how we will improve services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
- SEND Improvement Board and key performance indicators
- The SEND Improvement Board is in place to help us check how we are progressing with improvements across the BCP SEND Local Area Partnership.
- Performance indicators record data and measure progress towards targets. This ensures we stay on track in improving areas identified.
- Children and Young People's Partnership Plan
- SEND Self-evaluation - a checklist used to show OfstedOfstedOfsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. It inspects services providing education and skills for learners of all ages. It also inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people. inspectors how well we support children and young people with SEND. We also created a version of the self-evaluation in a user-friendly format.
- A SEND Quality Assurance Framework was published. The strategy sets out our vision for CYP to fully participate in their education and enjoy independent adult lives.
- BCP SEND sufficiency Strategy - outlines how the Council will meet rising demand for services and provision for children and young people with additional needs. It sets out short to medium term plans to ensure access to high quality, local support from early years to adulthood in the most efficient way.
- BCP NEET Strategy - This strategy is designed to improve access to opportunities to support a better future where all CYP in BCP can thrive and grow.
- BCP Educational Neglect Strategy - this strategy defines educational neglect and explains how assessment, planning, and intervention can help families improve children’s access to education when concerns arise.
- BCP Attendance Strategy - our approach to improving school attendance.
- Belonging Strategy
- Bullying - information and advice to parents. Bullying information on the Family Information Directory
- BCP Corporate Strategy - outlines the shared vision for BCP.
- Early Years charter for transitions
- https://www.fid.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/send-local-offer/information/working-together-to-make-things-better/our-agreements-charters
You Said: We want EHCPs to be easy to understand and written for the child or young person it belongs to.
We Did:
- A new EHCPEHCPA legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life. template that is easier to navigate.
- Published guidance, including use of language, for plan writers to use when drafting EHCPs
Educational Psychology (EP) service
Training for Teachers and Teaching Assistants
You Said:
- You wanted training on Mediated Learning and help with individual assessments.
- You need strategies for teachers and Teaching Assistants to support children with complex needs.
- You would like more proactive support like help with curriculum, emotional literacy, and staff development.
- You value working alongside Educational Psychology (EP) service during assessments.
We Did
- Gave EPs training and supervision on Mediated Learning and Dynamic AssessmentAssessment Measures children and young people’s learning and development and identifies additional needs. .
- We are developing a plan for introducing Mediated Learning ideas to schools and services.
Training and Coaching
You Said:
- You want training on behaviour and motivation to learn.
- You want training on Precision Teaching.
- You want more staff training.
We Did:
- Developed documents that provide bite-sized guides on the core principles associated with motivation, and Self-determination for schools.
- We have received positive reviews and excellent impact in early trials where schools have used our training and coaching offer.
- Offered central and traded training.
- Provided training and looked at how we could make it work better to meet people’s needs.
Working together to improve outcomes
You Said:
- The Special Educational Needs and/or DisabilitiesDisabilitiesA physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on an individual’s ability to do normal daily activities. Coordinators (SENDCO) value working with the EP service to create strategies planning for the child together.
- The SENDCOs value learning from their link EP and sharing knowledge.
- You gave positive feedback about supervision and discussions with SENCOs.
- You want EPs to work onsite with senior leaders on complex cases.
- You want EPs to observe children before meetings to help inform discussions.
- You value the Community AssessmentAssessment Measures children and young people’s learning and development and identifies additional needs. Meeting (CAM) project.
- You want more involvement from Assistant EPs to support in service delivery.
- EP advice for Post-16 needs to be stronger.
We Did
- The EP service started co-creating support plans with parents and school staff instead of just giving advice.
- We recognise the importance of making our working style clearer and creating opportunities to protect time for teamwork and showing what good support looks like.
- We have started to created documents, and brochures to explain psychological ideas clearly and consistently so this learning can be shared with parents and schools.
- We are offering more consultancy work, and group and individual supervision to school staff.
- We have returned to offering SENDCO circle support and traded work to schools.
- Increased face-to-face work and reduced virtual involvement where possible.
- EPs and Assistant EPs now try to observe or work directly with children before key meetings.
- We make sure parents and staff attend Community AssessmentAssessment Measures children and young people’s learning and development and identifies additional needs. Meetings (CAM) and encourage multi-agency involvement so we can work together to meet the children’s needs.
- Assistant EPs now help with projects, case discussions, advice, observations, person centred planning, training, and general practice work.
- EPs and Assistant EPs attended a Post-16 conference and shared info about the local offer.
Improving Service Standards
You Said:
- Locum EPs have not always met the standards needed for Educational Health and Care Plans.
We Did:
- We worked with Headteachers to develop a ‘locum protocol’ which is given to all locums.
For more information on the Educational Psychology service click here , and to find out how to access the Educational Psychology Service click here.