Proposals to improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities are open to consultation.

Developed after 12 months of talks with parents and carers, as well as representatives from Staffordshire’s schools, health and social care experts, the proposals look to provide proactive early intervention and increasing capacity to educate children with SEND in mainstream schools.

If accepted the new way of providing support is scheduled to be in place across the county by September 2024.

In Staffordshire 21,000 children currently require SEN support, or have an Education, Health and Care Plan, an increase of 29 per cent in five years.

At the same time, the number of county pupils attending special schools is higher than the national average, with only 27 per cent of children with SEND attending a mainstream school, compared to 40.5 per cent nationally.

The new strategy being consulted aims to develop proactive early intervention and additional support across all the county’s mainstream schools.

The consultation will be open until July 5th, 2023. People can participate in the consultation by giving feedback online or in face-to-face sessions.

Details can be found at:  www.staffordshire.gov.uk/SENDConsultation2023