 Welcome to the Children, Young People and Learning (CYPL) SEND & Inclusion newsletter. This is a dedicated publication for professionals and parent carers who are champions of SEND in West Sussex.
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We are pleased to share the new West Sussex SEND Strategy 2026–2030, launched on 25 March 2026. It can be found on the SEND Local Offer website.
This strategy is rooted in co-production and has been carefully and jointly developed over the past 18 months with children, young people, parent carers and professionals from across the West Sussex local area partnership. It sets out our shared ambition for every child and young person with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) to be supported, included, and able to thrive.
We have listened to what families have told us matters most to them: clearer communication, earlier support, better access to services, and a more joined-up approach across education, health and social care. This strategy describes the practical steps we will take over the next four years to improve experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND in West Sussex.
What the strategy aims to achieve
The strategy is underpinned by five working principles, which are a commitment to how we will work together as a partnership. These are: taking a child/young person-centred approach, co-production, inclusion and accessibility, early intervention and prevention, and strong multi-agency working.
The strategy focuses on six key priorities that will help us deliver meaningful change:
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Getting the right support at the right time Earlier help, clearer information, and better access to services when families need them
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Inclusive education and smoother transitions Helping children feel they belong in their school or setting, with well-planned support at every stage
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Preparing for adulthood from an early age Supporting young people to build independence, access their community, and move into further education, employment, or training
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Smarter use of resources and responsive services Designing services around what children and families say they need, and planning for the future
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Improving emotional health and wellbeing Making sure mental health support is easier to find, easier to access, and meets the needs of children and young people with SEND
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Clear, respectful and consistent communication Strengthening how we listen to families and how we share information, so everyone feels heard and understood
Co-produced with partners
The strategy has been jointly developed in partnership with:
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Children and young people with SEND
- West Sussex Young Voices
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Parent carers
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The West Sussex Parent Carer Forum (WSPCF) and the Together for Change Panel
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Schools, early years settings and colleges
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NHS Sussex, social care teams and the voluntary sector
We would like to thank our partners for their insight, honesty and sharing of lived experiences, which have been essential in shaping our commitments and the actions we will take.
How we will measure progress
To help ensure real change is delivered, we will monitor progress through the SEND and Alternative Provision Partnership Board. We will use our co-produced SEND Outcomes Framework, supported by the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum (WSPCF) annual survey, to measure progress. This will help us to understand whether children and young people feel safe, included, healthy, ambitious and increasingly independent.
We will also continue to listen to families through regular feedback, including the ‘have your voice heard’ events facilitated by WSPCF, and use this to support and guide future improvements.
In addition, we will track progress and activity in our SEND Continuous Practice Improvement Plan (CPIP). This plan sits behind the strategy and identifies the operational activity required, so we can achieve our six identified priorities.
Our Commitment
By listening, caring and acting together, we will build a fairer, more inclusive SEND system for West Sussex, one where every child and young person feels that they belong, can achieve well, and can look to the future with confidence.
Accessibility
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 Some of the services listed in this newsletter or on the Local Offer site are provided by private service providers and not by West Sussex County Council. These do not have a recommendation or endorsement from the local authority. If you decide to use a service / provision, you should be aware that you are responsible for doing your own checks to ensure they are suitable and fit for purpose. West Sussex County Council will not be liable for any damages or losses suffered by anyone who relies on the information in this newsletter.
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