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February 2026
Student leaders from Isca Academy visited Devon County Hall to learn more about local decision‑making and share their ideas on improving opportunities for children and young people across Devon. As part of the visit, they met senior leaders, including those working in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), to discuss how youth voice can shape more inclusive services and strengthen partnership work across the county.
Councillor Denise Bickley, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), has welcomed the publication of the government’s education and SEND white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving.
What the White Paper means for families
The white paper sets out the Government’s proposed reforms to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
To help families understand the changes, the Department for Education has produced a helpful toolkit.
Have your say
The Government is currently consulting on their proposals. Families are encouraged to take part before the consultation closes on Monday, 18 May.
Find out more and take part in the consultation.
A new Devon‑wide programme is launching to improve inclusive leisure and physical activity for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Led by Active Devon, it centres young people’s voices to help providers understand barriers and create welcoming, accessible opportunities.
 A major gathering of education leaders and national experts has brought renewed focus to strengthening inclusion and improving support for children and young people across Devon.
Young people in Devon are helping shape better mental health support through Children and Family Health Devon’s Young Advisors, who use their lived experience to influence services and create resources like the nationally recognised letter for tomorrow.
From April, the Devon County Council SEND Operations team will introduce a new communication and relationship standard to help make communication clearer, more consistent and easier to follow for families across Devon.
The standard has been shaped by feedback from families and staff over the past year. It brings together a set of simple, practical commitments that aim to make the SEND process feel more predictable and better supported.
Members of the Devon Youth Council are continuing their work to shape safe, inclusive and welcoming town centres for all young people in Devon. Their latest update highlights how they are working with Councillors to ensure spaces are designed so every young person can feel represented and supported.
They are exploring how existing buildings and community spaces can better meet young people’s needs, helping create places where they can spend time, access support and feel included.
Family Hubs are local centres offering help, advice, and information for families. They bring together services for children and young people, including support for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
If you’d like to keep up to date with their news and resources, take a look at the latest Family Hub newsletter.
This newsletter is here to share updates that matter to you and highlight support available across Devon.
If you’ve found it useful, please share it with others in your network so more families can benefit.
Do you have ideas, questions or examples of best practice to share?
We’d love to hear from you. Email us with your feedback, thoughts and help us showcase great practice across Devon.
We’ve been working with families and practitioners across Devon to develop new training based on the Four Cornerstones: Welcome and Care, Value and Include, Communicate, and Work in Partnership. These principles help us understand what’s working well and where things can improve, and your feedback continues to shape this work.
Parent Carer Partners are now teaming up with SEND Operations and Educational Psychology on focused improvement projects, supported by the Parent Carer Forum. There will be more opportunities to get involved soon, so if you would like to help shape changes as a Parent Carer Partner, you can sign up here.
Have you shared your experience?
A quick way to help us improve is by completing the Four Cornerstones survey after any interaction with SEND services, health services or your child’s school. Every piece of feedback - positive or negative - helps guide real changes across the system.
To help improve the timeliness of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), additional specialist support is being brought in by Devon County Council to draft a small number of plans. This extra capacity will help move EHCPs forward more quickly and reduce delays for families who have been waiting the longest.
A small group of families are included in this initial phase, and everyone in this group has already been contacted directly. If your child’s plan is included now, or in a later phase, you will be contacted directly. If you have not been contacted, this does not affect your child’s EHCP.
Families can be assured that:
- Only the information required to draft the plan is being shared
- All GDPR and data‑security checks have been fully completed
- The external organisation (Enhance LTD) will not contact families directly
- The local authority continues to oversee all statutory decisions and the quality of every plan
This short‑term additional support is designed to help EHCPs progress at a quicker pace, without compromising quality or oversight.
If you have a child or young person with special educational needs, this training is for you!
Delivered by Devon Information Advice and Support (DIAS), these sessions help parent carers understand key parts of the SEND system and develop practical skills to support their child. The training explains what special educational needs are, how support works in nursery, school and college, and how to feel more confident speaking up for your child and working with professionals. All sessions are free, friendly and informal.
Online: How to take part and share what you know about your child
- Tuesday 3 March, 10.30am to 12pm
In‑person:
- Tuesday 10 March 2026, 9.30am to 12.45pm
Exeter Community Centre, 17 St David’s Hill, Exeter EX4 3RG
Devon County Council has welcomed the Government’s decision to fund 90 per cent of local authorities’ historic Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) deficits, calling it a major step forward for children, young people and families.
Devon County Council has shared an update for families involved in SEND Tribunal appeals.
Navigating EBSA: Practical guidance for parents and educators
Autism and Us programme
- Sessions begin Wednesday 4 March
DIAS Making sense of SEND
- Tuesday 3 March
- Tuesday 10 March
SEND Family Day at RUDA Holiday Park
SEND Families drop in event - Barnstaple
- Thursday 19 March
- Drop in anytime 9:30am to 2:30pm, Castle Centre, Barnstaple
- No booking required
Parental Minds workshop - supporting someone who causes harm to themselves
Connecting moments - digital SEND support for families
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