Welcome to our latest Stakeholder SEND Bulletin.

This month, we proudly launched the Ordinarily Available Inclusion Framework (OAIP). This will involve working closely with headteachers, SENCos, and Inclusion Leads to help schools integrate the framework into their daily practices.

 

The OAIP provides schools with guidance on how to use their existing resources to support SEND pupils more effectively, reducing reliance on external support and allowing for quicker interventions. For parents, this means greater clarity about the support available within the school. We are also planning support surgeries to help schools implement the framework.

Our co-production sub-workstream is in its final stage of developing Dudley’s Co-Production Charter and we are working with the Parent Carer Forum to plan its rollout across schools and partner organisations.

We have made progress on several pilot projects designed to help schools build capacity, more about this in our workforce development section below.

 

Workstream Two: Developing local provision to support the needs of children and young people which is in borough and cost effective, supporting children and young people to access appropriate  education in their locality

Over the past few months, we have engaged with schools, internal teams, and the Parent Carer Forum to gather feedback. The draft SEND & Alternative Provision strategy, which is about ensuring that we have the right kind of SEND support provisions across the borough,  is nearing completion and will be shared with stakeholders for input later this month. We are also preparing implementation plans to ensure a smooth rollout once the strategy is finalised.

In our resource bases, this term has started positively. Crestwood School has launched its new base, while Ellowes, Woodside, and Priory are preparing for a January opening. We have identified the need for additional social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) base provisions, which we plan to address through the commissioning process. We are also working on establishing stronger quality assurance practices and clear performance measures across all bases.

The Dudley Pathways Strategy is now part of the broader programme, and work is progressing well. We are developing a structured approach to ensure children receive timely, tailored support, aiming to reduce exclusions and improve transitions. This strategy will support schools at different levels, providing universal inclusion models, alternative curriculum pathways, and bespoke provisions for those with complex needs.

 

Workstream Three: Clear Pathways for young people which are appropriate for their age, aptitude, and ability – leading to jobs, supported employment and apprenticeships.

We have reviewed the scope of this workstream to cover all four Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) outcomes: Employment, Independent Living, Community Inclusion, and Health. Task and finish groups are being set up for each outcome, and we are working with stakeholders to identify gaps and opportunities from Year 9 onwards. This will help schools create better plans to support students in developing essential life skills and preparing for adulthood.

We are also refreshing our PfA Strategy. Over the next few weeks, we will gather feedback from stakeholders to ensure it meets the needs of young people with SEND, followed by action planning to drive its implementation.

We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress.

 

Dudley’s Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision Guidance 

All children and young people are entitled to an education that is appropriate to their needs, promotes high standards and the fulfilment of potential.  

This guidance is designed to help education practitioners in all settings identify, plan for and meet the needs of children and young people who may require targeted support or interventions that can be provided from the resources that are ‘ordinarily’ available within the setting 

Dudley parent/carers, education settings and practitioners worked together to co-produce this Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision guidance document which is intended to be used as a tool for schools and settings and those partner agencies working with them. This document contains a wealth of ideas, strategies and interventions to help support Dudley children and young people who may have additional needs.  It contains links to resources and training both from local services and from National providers. It is hoped that it will promote confidence and knowledge within our workforce which will lead to a greater consistency in the support our children and young people receive. 

Download a copy of the OAIP guidance  

• https://dudleyci.co.uk/Dudley-oaip 

• Or use the QR code below 

We want your feedback 

This is Dudley’s ‘fledgling’ OAIP framework which, through continued feedback from its users, will ‘grow and evolve’.  By offering your feedback and comments we will be able to develop and shape this guidance to become a shared document that is widely used and valued.   

Leave feedback and have your say and contribute to its continued development.   

https://forms.office.com/e/hL9XWZcm99  

Dudley Parent Carer Forum Annual Survey – 2024 

Dudley Parent Carer Forum are currently running their annual survey regarding SEND 

The survey is designed for parent carers of children/young people with SEND between the ages of 0-25 and living in Dudley.  

The results are completely independently evaluated by the parent carer forum. 

The survey takes around 10-15 minutes to complete and enables us to capture the true feelings of parent carers in the borough. 

The results of the survey are vital to our work and to ensure that we focus on the things that really matter to you.