Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)
SEND is an abbreviation often used when a child or young person has Special Educational Needs and/ or Disabilities. Needs arising from these difficulties or disabilities may require special consideration or provision by education establishments or health and social care providers, in order for them to make progress. This provision is something that is additional to and different from that generally available to children and young people of the same age.
The Children and Families Act 2014 places statutory duties on the NHS, both health commissioners, and providers, to work with the local authority to provide support to children and young people with SEND who are aged 0-25 years. This requires all partner agencies to work collaboratively to improve outcomes for Children and Young People with SEND.
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are committed to improving the experience and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The CCG works jointly with both Worcestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council and the children, young people and their families to deliver services that meet the needs of the local community. To support the SEND agenda, the CCG have a GP Clinical Lead and have appointed a Senior Manager for SEND. Other support available which is County specific is can be found in the tabs below.
Keep up with our SEND Improvement Journey with these video updates:
- SEND Improvement Programme Journey Video 1
- SEND Improvement Programme Journey Video 2
- SEND Improvement Programme Journey Video 3
Local Offers
If children and young people aged 0-25yrs have special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND), the Local Authority Local Offer website will provide them, their families and professionals with accessible information about services and support available locally. For more information please visit the Worcestershire County Council SEND Local Offer and the Herefordshire Council SEND Local Offer webpages.
Herefordshire and Worcestershire SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)
SENDIASS provide confidential and impartial information, advice and support to children, young people and their parents and carers in relation to SEND. For details about the support they can provide you and your family, please visit their website: www.hwsendiass.co.uk
Useful Links
- Council for Disabled Children SEND support: A council made of over 200 voluntary and community organisations which work to create an inclusive society for children and young people with educational needs and/or a disability.
- SEND Code of Practice (2015)
- SEND resources for healthcare professionals