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Welcome to the Families in Partnership Newsletter for March 2026 - supporting families with SEND
Published
Families in Partnership is the monthly newsletter for families with SEND in Gloucestershire. Here you can find out about the latest updates, news and developments in the county. We are here to cover the topics you tell us are important. Please use the contact information below to let us know if there is something you would like to see featured in a future edition.
In this issue we have a range of articles, including:
Gloucestershire County Council’s welcome of the Government’s announcement of additional investment to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), recognising that the reforms build on strong foundations already in place locally.
An update on the new Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) Guide, ‘What Does ‘Good’ Look Like’. Written primarily to support professionals, the Guide is also a useful tool for families in understanding the content of their EHCP and what they should expect it to include. The Guide is also now available in flipping book format to support accessibility and useability for everyone, so please do take a look. EHCP - What Does 'Good' Look Like Guide
Helen Bond, Chair of Directors at Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum, and Britt Fox, Manager of SENDIASS at Gloucestershire County Council, share their experience and expertise to inform families of their options around Phase Transfer, see the full article here Phase Transfer is when a child or young person, with or without an EHCP, moves from one stage of education to another.
There is an article giving information on a variety of inclusive activities for families with SEND during the school and college holidays in April, including the Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAF), which makes a welcome return this Spring (available from 28 March) and is available for children and young people who receive benefits-related free school meals and this Spring the offer is being extended to any child who may benefit from attending the programme, through our grant funded Holiday Activities Programme (HAP). The article includes a helpful reminder about how to make a booking. Inclusive activities for the April holidays - including HAF
The annual Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum SEND Information Fair was held in February, and Sarah Stripe, Operations Manager from the Forum, shares highlights from the day, which was attended by over 300 Parent Carers.Gloucestershire County Council shares an update on the changes to the current Children’s Positive Behaviour Support Service; the SEND and Inclusion Gloucestershire Local Area Partnership Board, often referred to as SILAP, share a further update on the work of the Board; and the Gloucestershire charity, ‘Allsorts’, tell us about, ‘Growing Together’ a new 10-week early years programme for families with children aged 0–3 with developmental or medical needs.
Plus much more!
If you’re reading this newsletter for the first time, we hope you find it useful.  If there is a change we should make; or if you would like something to be featured; or if you have any questions then please email us - familiesinpartnership@gloucestershire.gov.uk 
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