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:

• visiting our SEND surveys page to contribute to the annual SEND survey.
• Tell us what you think by visiting our BCP - Start service · Customer Self-Service web page.
• Send us an e-mail at: CYPcoproduction@bcpcouncil.gov.uk if you are interested in getting involved

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:

• We wrote a SEND Co Production charter, which was signed and promoted a co production pledge across the partnership. The charter was co-produced and signed up to by BCP, the Parent Carers Trust, the Parent Carers Forum, Dorset Children's Foundation, SWAN UK and NHS Dorset.
• We created a SEND young people’s co-production charter. This charter sets out values agreed and co-created by young people & BCP. It underpins our co production work. Easy read version available.
• 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