How the SEND Local Offer is developing

Norfolk's SEND Local Offer is constantly being developed. Read about new, planned and proposed special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision and support.

As part of our SEND Communications Plan, we are working to improve how we communicate with families of children with SEND.

We want children and young people with SEND and their families to be involved and have a say in things that happen in their lives. We are committed to increasing opportunities to give views. Find out more in planning SEND services together.

We have co-produced two new videos to help families:

• Better understand the SEND Local Offer
• Better understand SEN Support in mainstream schools 

We share regular updates, promote news and share information and useful web pages that is relevant to parents/carers on our Norfolk SEND Facebook.

Our Norfolk Local Offer Twitter is aimed at sharing information with professionals working in SEND.

We have also launched a SEND news bulletin, which brings together multiple newsletters into one.

Subscribe to SEND bulletin

In summer 2023, work started on a new Norfolk Area SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy for 2024 - 2029. It is being developed by representatives from across the council and health services in co-production with parent/carer organisations and Norfolk's education providers.

The new strategy will reflect the new Department for Education (DfE) SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan and the new Ofsted and CQC area SEND inspection.

The SEND survey gathered the views of children and young people with SEND, their parents/carers and the people who work with them during the May and June 2023. The results will be published in the SEND Local Offer in the autumn.

The views help leaders and managers understand what is working and what needs to improve for children and young people with SEND and their families in Norfolk.

The SEND survey findings will inform the new Norfolk Area SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy (NASAPS) 2024-29 and its Local Inclusion (action) Plan of improvement work

The feedback has been used to shape the refresh of the Norfolk Area SEND Strategy and new actions that are a priority for 2022/23 have been identified.

The next SEND survey will be in 2025.

Making Sense of SEND events (previously known as SEND family roadshows) are a great opportunity for parents and carers to find out more about special educational needs and disability services and support.

Find out more about the events and book a place.

In March 2023 we reached an agreement with the Department for Education (DfE). This will bring vital investment for our new six-year local first inclusion improvement programme. It aligns with the Government's recently announced SEND improvement plans.

Find out more about the programme

The Short Breaks service has won £955,000 of funding from the Government's £30 million Short Breaks Innovation Fund set up as part of the national SEND improvement plan.

The project is for 14 to 18-year-olds with SEND with the most complex social and emotional behaviour. It will introduce new community-based provision for families struggling to manage their child's behaviour safely, including family coaching, psychological therapy, activities in the home, and community-based activities.

Three new Short Breaks navigator posts have been appointed to co-ordinate and help families navigate support for their child across health, social care, and education, improving the way professionals collaborate to achieve the best outcomes and support for a child.

The project will help us to increase support for families in their homes and communities at an earlier stage.

Find out more about short breaks.

Following a successful pilot of a Special School Eye Care Service, NHS England is engaging with stakeholders, special schools and the public to share the learning and develop the model for all special schools from 2024 to 2025.

The Special School Eye Care Service is an in-school eye examination service for children in special school settings in England. The aim of the service is to improve access to eye care services for all children with a learning disability.

Children with a learning disability are 28 times more likely to have a serious sight problem, and over 40% require glasses. Whilst free NHS sight tests are available for all children, the Government recognises it can be difficult for children and young people who attend special school settings to attend high street sight testing services and that special schools benefit from receiving personalised advice about how to improve their environment for learners with visual impairments.

The benefit of having Special School Eye Care Teams includes:

• Identifying previously undiagnosed visual impairment in children who cannot access regular visual assessments
• Providing direct communication of outcomes to teachers, enabling them to offer appropriate educational opportunities
• Providing easy read reports for parents, carers, teachers and other health care professionals
• Signposting resources and strategies for parents and teachers of children with visual impairment
• Building confidence and capability in children to engage with annual visual assessments - reducing undiagnosed visual loss in adults with learning disabilities.

Under the Special School Eye Care Service, the following services will be offered:

• visual assessments
• refraction tests
• dispensing of glasses

Find out more Special School Eye Care Service | NHSBSA.

A multi-disciplinary group have curated a selection of learning and resources with professionals in mind.

This one stop shop for Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) learning and resources is aimed at those working with children and young people (CYP) with SEND and their families. These materials will support professionals with their inclusive practice and professional development.

This platform will enable professionals to feel confident when working with CYP with SEND and their families, ensuring that they have access to learning and resources from a wide range of recognised sources. It provides professionals with a go-to place for learning opportunities that they can tailor to meet their needs.

Professionals can access the training at Just One Norfolk. You will need to register with an account which is free and simple to do.

A similar offer is under development for parents and carers and children and young people, so keep a look out for more information soon.