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Friday 4 April 2025
Welcome from SEND Family Voice Torbay
Thank you to everyone who attended our first SFVT conference. The whole day, which focused on celebrating and supporting neurodiversity, was absolutely fantastic, with incredible speakers and attendees. It was wonderful to receive such positive feedback from everyone and make connections within the SEND community.
Thank you also to all the parents and carers, as well as children and young people, who took the time to complete the SEND area inspection survey. The inspectors received a very high response and were grateful for the clear feedback you all provided. We will hear about the outcome of the inspection shortly.
Our next Neurodiversity Supporting Parent programme workshop is on 13 May, from 10am to 12pm at Parkfield House. This is the first of two sessions focusing on autism and anxiety.
If you're interested in either the face-to-face session or the evening online event we're also offering, please book on our website using the link below.
Wishing you all a great Easter break.
Everyone at SFVT
Ofsted inspection update
Thank you to everyone who filled out the Ofsted / CQC survey when the inspection team visited us last month.
We had a huge response which helped the inspectors understand Torbay better.
The inspection team spent three weeks with individual teams across the council, education and health partners.
One of their tasks was also to carry out case audits of some children’s Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
The council’s Quality Assurance team co-ordinated this and would like to thank all the families, children and young people who agreed to be part of this process.
We are due to find out the outcome of the inspection in the coming weeks and will share the results with you then.
Mental health support for all schools
The expansion is part of government plans to prioritise mental health prevention and early intervention in education, ensuring that every student has accessible mental health support.
By 2029, all primary, secondary and colleges across the county will be equipped with dedicated mental health practitioners on site through the Mental Health Support Team in schools (MHST).
Schools will also have access to training, consultations and digital mental health tools as well as access to trained professionals to provide preventative and responsive services.
Free mental health support training available
This online webinar, on 28 April, is available for anyone over 16 who lives, works or studies in Torbay, Devon or Plymouth. Learn about public mental health models and recognised techniques and find out how to signpost to local support services and resources.
Supported internships - have you seen our video yet?
We're excited to share our new video about supported internships – produced by a young person completing a supported internship with Sound Communities.
A supported internship is on the job learning for 16-25 year olds with an EHCP. This means they spend some time at college but most of the time they are on a work placement with an employer.
The short film includes interviews with young people as well as their employers.
In our new post 16 educational pathway, a special supported internship option will be available. We’ll have more information about this later in the year.
If your young person might be interested in a supported internship, email ehcp@torbay.gov.uk.
Torbay locality model - an update
Last year, we asked for your thoughts on plans for a locality model in Torbay. A locality model is when decisions about a child’s education are made at a more local level.
Speech, language and communication needs will be the focus of our locality trial this year.
Next year, after the trial has finished, we hope to have a plan for future working.
What will it mean for my child?
It could mean your child gets the help they need without a diagnosis or an EHCP.
It also means we’ll make local decisions about how children and young people’s needs can be met. We’ll also share good practice across different services and providers.
We’ll try and be more consistent in the provision we offer across schools and make more effective use of the money available.
We’ll be pooling our expertise and resources so that SEND support and services can be accessed more easily.
The trial will concentrate on a small area of SEND across a selection of Torbay schools.
Over the next few months, we’ll be co-designing this trial alongside our health, social care, Family Hubs and school partners.
We also want to work with young people and parents and carers.
If you’d like to get involved, email admin@familyvoicetorbay.onmicrosoft.com.
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