News from the SEND and Inclusion Local Area Partnership

Published

10.09.2026

Here are some news bulletins and further links to the latest developments from across Gloucestershire's SEND and Inclusion Local Area Partnership, covering Education, Health, Social Care services along with partners in the voluntary and community sector.

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Thematic Review

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) announced on Monday, 7 September that will be visiting Gloucestershire to jointly review the arrangements in Gloucestershire’s local area for the Local Offer. Read more here.

SEND reforms

This September marks the start of the next phase of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform in Gloucestershire, as national SEND reforms and Gloucestershire's Local SEND Reform Plan begin to move from planning into delivery. Here the Education team details why these changes matter. Read more here.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) 2026

The newly-published Assessment for 2026 is a co-produced and collaborative document between key partners such as the local authority, health services and voluntary sector agencies. It sets out the health and wellbeing needs and inequalities of the population.

Seven recommendations have been made in the JSNA, which have continued to inform three key, jointly-agreed and locally-determined priorities around improved communication, access to support when it is needed and improved outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

The Local Area Partnership uses these priorities to commission a number of educational, therapeutic and wellbeing services for children and young people with SEND as part of the Local Offer. The JSNA is being used to inform the draft Joint Commissioning Strategy and the areas of focus in its improvement plan, which is regularly reviewed and refreshed.

The latest Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is now ready to view on the SEND Law, Strategies and Plans pages on Gloucestershire’s Local Offer website for Parent Carers - Support for Families with SEND.

Gloucestershire SEND and Inclusion Partnership – new logo

Parents and colleagues from across the Local Area Partnership identified that it is not always clear where different communications regarding SEND and Inclusion are coming from. The Partnership agreed that a logo to help identify when communications, which includes SEND annual surveys, are from the SEND and Inclusion Local Area Partnership (SILAP), would be helpful and provide reassurance about the source.

You will notice this logo will be used for any updates and communications from the Partnership moving forward.

Gloucestershire SEND and Inclusion update

Working Together to Improve Support for Children in Gloucestershire

Highlights from the SEND and Inclusion Local Area Partnership (SILAP) Board meeting, 17 August 2026

Your experiences help shape better support.

The Board brings together Parent Carer representatives, education, health and care partners to improve services for children and young people with SEND.

At this meeting, members looked at what is changing, where progress is being made and what still needs attention.

The voices of children, young people, parents and carers remain central to this work.

Making Information easier to find and use

The Gloucestershire Local Offer is being improved so families and young people can more easily find clear, useful information about SEND support.

Families are helping to review pages, check accessibility and suggest changes.

Updates to information about autism, ADHD and neurodiversity have been popular with Parent Carers.

A new section on the Local Offer will also explain SEND reforms and what they mean locally.

More Specialist Places and Stronger Inclusion

Work is continuing to increase the number of specialist education places in the county, including plans for two new special schools. More details on these developments will be shared in future meetings.

Providing Help Earlier

We're continuing to build on a successful approach that helps children and young people get the right support before challenges become bigger problems.

The Coordinated Support team (CST) shared how their work has helped more children stay in, or return to, mainstream education by bringing professionals together and focusing on what each child needs. This support will continue with a long-term aim of reaching even more children earlier.

Preparing for Adulthood

The range of post-16 choices for young people with SEND is growing, with new pathways being created for this September, including construction, employment skills development courses and supported employment opportunities.

Partners are working together to make transitions smoother and improve advice about available options to help families and young people receive clear information earlier so they have time to explore choices and plan with confidence.

How children, young people and families are involved

Parents Carers are helping to review the Local Offer content and its accessibility.

Feedback from children, young people and families is helping improve the quality of EHCPs.

Earlier, clearer information is being developed so families can understand the SEND reforms rolling out from September and the post-16 choices.

Partners are using lived experience, feedback and website information to understand what is working and what needs to improve.

Co-production means working with people, not simply making decisions for them. We want children and young people with SEND, and their parents and carers, to be active partners in shaping support.

Your knowledge of what helps and what needs to change is essential if we are to make a lasting difference across Gloucestershire.

Keep sharing your views

Please continue to use local engagement opportunities, parent-carer groups, schools, settings and SEND services to tell us about your experiences.

Your feedback helps partners understand priorities and improve support for children, young people and families.

To find out more about the SILAP board, who’s involved and what are they doing for you, please visit Gloucestershire’s Local Offer, Support for Families with SEND.