SEND partnership

Feedback from our surveys

You said, we are doing...

We want to continue to work with and get feedback from:

  • parents and carers
  • children and young people
  • professionals

This feedback will help us offer the right support across Education, Health and Social Care.

If you'd like to let us know something you would like us to work on in the future, you can email catherine.prince@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk to share your views.

Targeted short breaks

You said: Targeted short breaks weren’t fit for purpose.

We are doing:

  • we have increased the number of providers and provision available
  • we have promoted the targeted short break offer. Our registration numbers are now much higher
  • we are currently undertaking a full recommission of the targeted short breaks activities offer. Parents, carers, children and young people will be involved in this process
  • we held targeted short break drop in events to allow parents and carers to share their views on the current service and shape future services
  • we have gathered parent, carer, children and young person feedback via a survey

SEND information and activities

You said: It isn’t easy to find activities and information and we’re not visible enough as a council around Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND).

We are doing:

  • the SEND Partnership Facebook now has 616 followers. This is helping to promote activities in the local area and share information
  • the SEND Local Offer continues to be updated. We are asking parents, carers, children, young people and professionals for their feedback via our surveys, this helps us to continue to update the online content to make it as useful as possible
  • we are asking for SEND Local Offer champions who would like to be involved in the ongoing development of the website and to help collate information on what is available in local areas for children with SEND and their families. 

If you would like to be involved, please email lorna.jones@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

SEND transport

You said: It isn’t easy to find activities and information and we’re not visible enough as a Council around SEND.

We are doing:

  • we have done a full review of the SEND home to school transport service
  • we have done a full consultation with families
  • we have coproduced a new SEND Home to School Transport Strategy
  • we have employed an independent travel trainer to help and support our young people to develop their skills to travel independently
  • we held consultation sessions with you and SEND Alliance Cumbria (SENDAC). In our survey, 72% are now satisfied or very satisfied with the new service

If you would like a copy of the survey results for the SEND school transport arrangements, you can contact the service at:

Telephone: 0300 303 1591 (select option 2)
Email: send.transport@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Communication

You said: Communication is poor.

We are doing:

  • we have set up monthly SEND Local Offer drop in sessions, moving around the county. Giving parents, carers and families a chance to speak to different service providers, ask questions and get information and advice in one place
  • we have attended events held by schools and other organisations across the area
  • we have delivered sessions in schools with children and young people about what is important to them and how they would like to be supported. This has fed into the new SEND Strategy and targeted short break activities review
  • we have done engagement activities virtually and in person, across the day and into the evening, using accessible venues
  • we have shared information via newsletters, social media, the SEND Local Offer website and using our drop in events

We are now looking to expand this work further. If you have an event you would like us to attend or visit, please contact lorna.jones@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Children and young person views and engagement

You said: How do the young people have a say?

We are doing:

  • We are developing a group for children and young people with SEND to ensure they have their voices heard and they can help shape service and provision within Westmorland and Furness. 

If you would like to be involved in this, please contact lorna.jones@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk, sarah.heywood@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or rightsandparticipation@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk