15 December 2022: SEND peer reviews and training
From January 2023, we're introducing a new approach to SEND peer reviews for Bristol schools. SEND peer reviews involve leaders from Bristol schools working together to identify what's working well and what needs to improve in education settings.
We're doing SEND peer review training for Bristol SENDCOs and school leaders on 25 January 2023. Book a place.
If you have any questions about SEND peer reviews, email sendreviews@bristol.gov.uk
13 December 2022: Invitation to Black and Minoritised Communities to share their views about SEND in Bristol schools
We're writing guidance for schools to help them with their support of children with SEND from Black and Minoritised Communities.
This work is important because we know there are significant national differences in how children from Black and Minoritised Communities are identified as having SEND. Research from the University of Oxford in 2018 and feedback from parent carers has confirmed this is also true in Bristol.
We want to make sure that any guidance we give schools is based on the views and experiences of our local families. To do this, we need to hear from as many parents as possible about their experiences.
If you want to share your experiences, fill in our Parent carer survey by 31 January 2023.
The information you share is completely confidential. We will not share your names with anyone at Bristol City Council or with schools.
If you'd rather talk to someone about your experiences, email gabrielle.stacey@bristol.gov.uk
29 September 2022: Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan performance data published
Bristol City Council have published their performance data for finalised EHC plans on the Open Data website.
An EHC plan is a legal, personalised document that sets out a child or young person's:
- education, health and care needs
- support they will get to meet those needs
- aims for the next 12 months, as well as longer term goals
Each plan should be finalised within 20 weeks of being received.
Find the performance data on Bristol's Open Data website.
7 July 2022: SENDIAS service consultation
We're inviting you to participate in our consultation process for the SENDIAS Service, by completing a short survey.
In addition to consulting on this proposal, we would like young people and their families to tell us how they find out about services, how they want to contact them and how they best access information.
We will use this feedback to help define the communication methods that we require providers to use as part of delivering the SENDIAS Service.
This consultation will close on Monday 8 August.
Consultation events
We will be holding two consultation events, which are opportunities to find out more about the draft commissioning strategy and ask any questions:
- Wednesday 20 July, 10.30-11.30am, in person at city hall. Come along to the main reception and you will be guided to the correct room.
- Thursday 28 July, 7pm to 8pm, virtual. Find details of how to join online.
27 June 2022: Guide to Ordinarily Available Provision for parent carers
Ordinarily available provision is the resources and support we expect to be available for children and young people with SEND in mainstream education settings.
A guide to ordinarily available provision for parent carers is now available on our Ordinarily Available Provision page. Parent carers may find it helpful to talk about ordinarily available provision with their child's school or setting when they meet to discuss the support they need.
The latest updates about services and support for children and young people with SEND.
25 May 2022: COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children aged 5 to 11
COVID-19 vaccinations are available for all children aged 5 to 11 years at clinics across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Children aged 5 to 11 are eligible for two doses of a lower (paediatric) version of the COVID-19 vaccine. The second dose of the vaccine is given 12 weeks after their first vaccine.
If your child has a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection, wait 12 weeks from the start of their infection before they are vaccinated. If they catch COVID after their first vaccine, they should wait 12 weeks before having their second dose.
Children's clinics are being run by GPs, community pharmacies and the Vaccination Centre at UWE Bristol. All vaccination sites are working to make appointments convenient and welcoming for young children.
To book an appointment:
- visit the National Booking Service
- call 119
- find a walk in clinic in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire
Find out more about the vaccination and the effects of COVID-19 in young children on COVID-19 vaccination: resources for children aged 5 to 11 years.
25 May 2022: 5 to 11 year olds at high risk from a COVID-19 infection
Vaccination is particularly important for children who have health conditions that put them at high risk from COVID-19, because the benefits are greater. These children, and children who live with someone who has a weakened immune system, should already have been invited for vaccination by their GP or consultant.
The interval between vaccine doses for these children is 8 weeks. You cannot book a second dose appointment at 8 weeks using the National Booking Service or by calling 119.
You must:
- book an appointment through the child's GP
- go to a 5 to 11 year old walk in clinic with proof of the child's condition
- email bnssg.massvaccination@nhs.net to arrange an appointment
Find out about 5 to 11 walk in clinics in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
For more information about the health conditions visit COVID-19 vaccination: resources for children aged 5 to 11 years on or talk to your specialist or GP.
18 May 2022: Help shape the future of short breaks services in Bristol
We're in the early stages of recommissioning our short breaks services.
We're seeking the views of parents and carers of disabled children and young people via an online survey.
The survey is open until Friday 22 July 2022.
Early engagement with parents, carers, professionals, and young people is currently underway to understand what their priorities are and what services they would like to access.
The feedback will be used to develop formal proposals that will go out to public consultation later this year, with the aim to have recommissioned services in place by October 2023.
If you would like a paper copy of the survey or information in an alternative format, email jcu@bristol.gov.uk or phone 0739 210 8815.
18 May 2022: Avoiding mental health admissions
The South West National Network of Parent Carer Forums have made an online booklet to help parents or carers of young people with autism and or a learning disability with mental health concerns. It offer advice to find community support before your young person needs to be admitted to a tier 4 mental health hospital.
Read the booklet: Admission avoidance: how to avoid mental health admissions for young people with autism and or a learning disability
17 May 2022: Children and young people's views about the SEND green paper
The SEND green paper ‘Right support, right place, right time' is currently out for consultation.
To make sure that as many children and young people (CYP) with SEND in the city as possible have their say about the proposals, there are many ways that CYP can get involved.
1.
The DfE have included 7 targeted questions for CYP in their online survey.
Select the option ‘child/ young person (up to the age of 25)' in response to question (f) at the beginning of the survey to make sure that only these questions are available.
2.
document Complete the consultation questions(24 KB) for inclusion in the city wide response to the Green Paper.
Email your response to chris.duncan@bristol.gov.uk by Friday 22 June.
All responses will remain anonymous and will be included in the city wide response.
The questions have also been sent directly to schools.
3.
The Council for Disabled Children are looking for groups of CYP to participate in a consultation on the proposed changes.
Full details of the approach are not yet available, however CYP, schools and parent carers can register their interest in taking part with Ga-Ling at ghardstaff@ncb.org.uk
10 May 2022: Disabled children and the Equality Act 2010
Schools have a range of duties under the Equality Act 2010:
- to staff
- as employees
- to parents and others, where the school is providing a service to other people using the school
- to pupils, staff and others who share other protected characteristics as well as disability
The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) has recently updated its guide to help teachers understand the legislation and how it applies to their work with disabled pupils in their school. It explains what the Equality Act requires of schools and of governors, trustees and others who are the ‘responsible body' for the school.
Find the full guide: Disabled Children and the Equality Act 2010: What teachers need to know and what schools need to do.
4 May 2022: New guidance for SENDCos
Three new documents that are now available for schools on the SEND Local Offer.
pdf The SEND training offer for schools(390 KB) brings together all of the SEND training available across Bristol. This makes it easier for schools to plan what training they need and to know what is available.
As part of this focus on SEND workforce development in schools, we have also produced some pdf guidance on how to include information about the training and expertise of staff in your SEND information reports(233 KB) .
Guidance is also available to pdf help schools understand which tools to use to identify and assess SEND(391 KB) .
If would like to give feedback on any of the guidance, email gabrielle.stacey@bristol.gov.uk
7 April 2022: Murmuration Community Therapy Group
Murmuration Community Therapy Group has produced a video for professionals about improving relationships with parents. The video contains interviews with parents and carers of children and young people with SEND and recounts their lived experiences. Watch the video on the Murmuration website.
To find out more:
- email hello@murmurationcommunitytherapy.com
- text 07792 189 909
9 February 2022: Joint commissioning strategy for SEND services for children and young people in Bristol
We've published a new Local Area Joint Commissioning Strategy for SEND services for Children and Young People in Bristol with NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.
26 January 2022: New person-centred Education Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment forms
We worked with parents, carers and professionals to design:
- a new EHC needs assessment request form
- a new family views form
- 2 new child or young person's views forms
The new and improved documents provide SEND professionals with a more person-centred assessment and planning tool, with children's and young people's (CYP) views at the heart of the process.
Find the updated information for:
The new template is part of the Time for Change programme which has the CYP voice at the centre of its developments. This is critical in identifying their hopes and where and how they would like support to achieve their aspirations.
Through workforce development, we'll work with the SEND community to drive a change in culture where the person-centred planning approach is fully embedded in SEND practice in Bristol.
17 January 2022: Review of Alternative Learning Provision (ALP) and Improvement Plan in Bristol
In 2021 Bristol City Council carried out a review into the effectiveness of ALP in Bristol. We held engagement sessions with our community stakeholders and have published an Improvement Plan.
For more information, email ALPHUB@bristol.gov.uk
11 January 2022
We've added information about the Community Dental Service to services that can help young people with SEND stay healthy.
6 January 2022
We've published 4 easy read guides to help understand SEND support in Bristol. You can find them to download at:
