Parents and carers share feedback to shape SEND services in future
A ‘listening’ event welcomed more than 60 Wirral parents and carers to share and discuss plans for the future of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services in the borough.
Held at The Lauries in Birkenhead, the event gave staff from support services the chance to hear directly from parents and carers of children with SEND. One of the key aims was to listen to and learn from the experiences of parents and carers to inform decisions about how services are provided in the future.
As part of works to improve SEND services in Wirral following an improvement notice issued in May this year by the Department for Education (DfE), the event was requested by the Local Area SEND Partnership Board. The board is made up of Chief Executives from the Local Authority, Education, Health and Care services and other key institutions in Wirral’s SEND sector.
Cllr Stephen Bennett, Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee for Wirral Council, said:
The idea behind events such as these is to provide a platform for SEND services across the local area to listen to and share ideas and plans directly with parents and carers. Bringing everyone together like this is an invaluable way of helping get people the right support for them, while also bringing a sense of community and connection for SEND young people and their families.
The idea behind the event was for SEND services from across the local area to listen to, and share plans with, parents and carers.
Dozens of parents and carers made time in their busy schedules to come along and share their experiences, their frustrations and, in some cases, to ask how they can work with and help the local area to make the improvements needed.
Parents fed back that they were:
- pleased they had come along,
- feeling listened to
- leaving with a better understanding of process and challenges
- appreciative of the opportunity for a face-to-face conversation
- leaving with a resolution
- feeling more hopeful
- keen for more of the listening events to be held
Support services were available to listen to and capture the concerns of parents and carers, as well as answering questions and logging any issues that need addressing.
The event was attended by staff from: SENDLO (SEND local offer), Holiday Activity Fund (HAF) Annual Review Team, Statutory Assessment Team, All Age Disability, Social Care, Children with Disabilities Team, Educational Psychology, Joint Commissioning, SENDIASS, Neurodiversity Pathway, Early Years, Family Hubs and the Head of SEND.
To learn more about the SEND local offer and keep up to date with the latest news and events, visit: https://www.sendlowirral.co.uk/.
