What we do

Gloucestershire SENCO Cluster Meetings

The Local Authority (LA) supports the effective collaboration between SENCOs and LA professionals through a SENCO Cluster Programme.  This support through the Cluster meetings will help SENCOs to enhance the provision for Gloucestershire's children with SEND, in turn raising their attainment and achievement, accelerating progress and raising their aspirations.Primary and Secondary SENCO clusters in Gloucestershire are open to all settings, including Alternative Provision and other Special Schools, including the Gloucestershire Hospital Education Service.

Objectives of the meetings are:

To ensure that the clusters:

• Have a positive impact on improving SEND provision and outcomes for Gloucestershire children and young people with SEND
• Are evaluated and have their effectiveness and impact on the provisions and outcomes for SEND children measured
• Give SENCOs  the opportunity to meet regularly to share and develop good practice within their local area
• Provide all SENCOs with the same messages and updates about national and local initiatives
• Provide all SENCOs with the same opportunities to discuss SEND issues with LA Professionals and other schools
• Provide all SENCOs with the same opportunities for CPD
• Share strategies and practice that help accelerate the progress of children with SEND.
• Support the implementation of Gloucestershire's Graduated Pathway
• Each of the Clusters will be co-facilitated by the Lead Advisory Teacher and a local Senco representative. They will be supported by representatives from other LA teams, including the Educational Psychology Service and SEN Monitoring and School Support Team

There are at least 3 meetings per year with a set agenda to include national and local updates.  In addition, and in response to identified needs, the Clusters themselves are able to arrange extra meetings to support their own CPD. Clusters groups are divided in to localities and are listed below:

Early Years

Professional Development Meetings for Early Years SENCOs

The Early Years Team co-ordinates professional development meetings for SENCOs.  These meetings are for SENCOs  working with the Early Years Foundation Stage in playgroups, day nurseries, childminding businesses, children's centres, schools and out of school settings,

These are run three times a year, in several venues at differing times, in all seven localities, Cheltenham, Cotswolds, Forest, Gloucester North, Gloucester South, Stroud and Tewkesbury.

Places are booked through the Early Years Team Training Directory which can be found at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/early-years-service/training-and-networking/.

Childminding Inclusion Network

Childminders working in Gloucestershire also have the opportunity to attend the Childminding Inclusion Network three times per year at Battledown Centre for Children and Families. The invitation is sent to all childminders from Jane Cummins, head at Battledown, and has a networking opportunity as well as a training focus decided by the attending childminders.