Young people and their families will be at the heart of the biggest transformation of special educational needs in Staffordshire and across the country in 30 years.
Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet will set out how it is implementing national reforms to special educational needs that will revolutionise the support young people receive.
The ‘Doing Things Differently’ programme gives Staffordshire young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) greater rights to have a say when they turn 16. For the first time, it also extends the support they receive up until 25.
In Staffordshire, this means more people will be able to have a bigger influence and greater access to the support available to them.
The programme also goes beyond government requirements, setting out how the county council and partners will work closely with children and young people, parents and professionals to overcome anything that could prevent children and young people with SEND progressing in life.
County Councillor Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills said:
“The ‘Doing Things Differently’ programme completely transforms the way we work with and for children and young people.
“All children regardless of their disability should, at the very least, been given every opportunity possible to achieve the best quality of life possible and as a county council we want to see people receive the support they need to allow them to flourish where they can at home, at school, at work and in the community.
“These changes will enable families to have more choice and more say and it is fantastic that this will now be extended to young people until they reach 25. This is the foundation for giving children with special education needs the same opportunities as everyone else, helping them to be as independent as they can be when they are older.”
From September the Statement of “Special Educational Need” was replaced with the New Education, Health and Care plan (EHC). Families are able to access the ‘local offer’ in Staffordshire online at www.staffordshirecares.info/
Ben added:
“The reforms are the biggest changes in 30 years, and in Staffordshire we are seizing the chance to give all children the best start in life. We have already made the pathway for assessment and care a lot easier for parents, and we have had government recognition for our work with parents, teachers, social care staff and other partners to ensure the changes are built around them and their needs.
“We want to give young people more say, and more choice, and are confident these changes will allow more young people with special educational needs to have greater opportunities to fulfil their own aspirations and dreams.”
People can find out more about the changes due to take place at www.staffordshirecares.info/
