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We've been listening: improvements to SEND education Information on the Local Offer

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Over the past few months, we asked Parent Carers what education information they would find most helpful on the Gloucestershire SEND Local Offer. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views. We received many responses, but the message was clear: families want information around the SEND journey that is easier to find, easier to understand and better organised.
Young boy laughing, wearing a blue shirt and brown waistcoat, while being hugged by female care assistant in a red t-shirt and pink jacket

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What you told us

Families asked for:
  • Clear information about SEND support in schools and colleges.
  • Better explanations of SEND Support, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and SEND processes. 
  • Information about different education options, including specialist provision, alternative provision, home education and post-16 pathways.
  • Guidance on who does what, including the roles of SENCOs, schools, specialist services and the local authority.
  • Information organised by age and stage as well as level of support.
  • More visual and accessible resources, including factsheets, videos and pathway guides.
  • Plain English explanations and less SEND jargon.

What we've done

Using your feedback, we have carried out a significant review of the education section of the Local Offer.

Updated age-based education pathways

Information is organised by age and stage to help families find relevant guidance more quickly.

Early Years (0-4)

Primary Age (4-11)

Secondary Age (11-16)

New levels of support information

We have introduced information organised around the different levels of support available, helping families understand:

  • Universal Support.
  • Targeted Support.
  • Targeted + Support.
  • Specialist Support.

This reflects the Graduated SEND Pathway and helps explain how support can increase depending on a child or young person's needs.

New 'Types of Education' section

We have created a dedicated section explaining different education options, including:

  • Mainstream schools.
  • Inclusion bases.
  • Special schools.
  • Alternative Provision.
  • Education Other Than At School (EOTAS).
  • Elective Home Education.
Easier-to-navigate EHCP information

The EHCP section has been completely reorganised to make it easier to understand key processes and find information about:

  • Requesting an EHC needs assessment.
  • How to contact the service.
  • Annual reviews.
  • Appeals and disagreement resolution.
  • Placements.

What's happening next?

This work is part of an ongoing programme of improvements. Our next priorities are:

  • Reviewing and enhancing information about Post-16 education and transitions into adulthood.
  • Expanding health information, including support for mental health and emotional wellbeing in schools.
  • Creating a series of short explainer videos and video shorts to help families understand SEND processes and available support.
  • Continuing to work with Parent Carers to identify gaps and improve information across the Local Offer.
Thank you

Your feedback is helping us make the Local Offer more useful, accessible and family-friendly. We are committed to ensuring that children and young people with SEND, and the people who support them, can access clear information about education, support and services at every stage of their journey.

If you haven't yet explored the updated education section, we encourage you to take a look and let us know what you think. Together, we can continue to improve the information and support available for Gloucestershire families.

For more information on sharing feedback, please visit the  'Have your Say' page on Support for Families with SEND - Gloucestershire's Local Offer for Parent Carers

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