In the May edition of the SEND & Inclusion Newsletter, we shared an update around the work underway to develop our SEND Reform Plan. This is an important piece of work for West Sussex, that sets out how we will strengthen support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities over the next three years.

The SEND Reform Plan must meet national Department for Education requirements and clearly demonstrate how we will improve outcomes, inclusion and sustainability across our SEND system. If the plan is approved by the Secretary of State for Education, it will unlock £182 million of High Needs Stability Grant funding for our local area.

We submitted the final version of our SEND Reform Plan to the Department for Education on 19 June 2026 and are now waiting to hear if it has been approved. We will keep you updated on progress.

In the meantime, please enjoy this bumper edition of the SEND & Inclusion Newsletter, which celebrates the many ways we embrace inclusion in West Sussex.

On 1 July 2026, professionals from across West Sussex and other local authorities came together with representatives from the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum (WSPCF) and Young Voices to reflect on what happens when an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) comes to an end. This process, known as Cease to Maintain, is an important part of a young person's journey towards adulthood and independence.

In most cases, an EHCP ends when a young person moves into employment or at the end of the academic year in which they turn 25. However, feedback from the WSPCF through Partnership Board meetings and "Have Your Say" events has highlighted that the prospect of an EHCP ending can be a source of anxiety for some families. Many describe an emotional attachment to the EHCP and the support, security and advocacy it represents. National conversations about SEND reform can also contribute to uncertainty.

We recognise the need to do things differently. Our aim is to create a system where young people and families experience the transition away from an EHCP with confidence rather than confusion or fear.

The workshop provided an opportunity to learn from colleagues across teams and other local authorities, while grounding discussions in the lived experiences of young people and families. A key theme was communication. We need to engage more effectively with young people and families, while improving communication across services to build trust and shared understanding.

We reflected on the fact that communication is about more than newsletters, policies or strategies. It involves meaningful conversations, listening carefully, building relationships and ensuring information is timely, purposeful and accessible.

Some of the key messages from the day included:

• The importance of advocacy and ensuring the voice of the young person is heard, valued and reflected in decision-making
• The power of language, and the need to provide information in clear, accessible formats
• A broader understanding of transition, recognising that every year is a step towards greater independence
• The opportunities technology presents to streamline administrative processes, enabling professionals to spend more time building relationships with young people and families

The workshop reinforced our shared commitment to improving the Cease to Maintain process so that young people and families feel informed, supported and empowered as they prepare for adulthood. The insights and ideas shared will help shape a clear action plan, developed alongside young people, families, education settings and partner organisations, to improve communication, strengthen support during transitions and build confidence in the process.

We continue to work closely with the Parent Carer Forum and our partners to improve services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

Listening to parent and carer experiences is a key part of this work and your voices continue to shape our objectives, priorities and service delivery. We work closely with the Parent Carer Forum to understand concerns, as well as to identify ways we can strengthen co-production across the system. We have also confirmed additional funding to support the Forum’s ongoing valuable contributions.

We are starting to see some encouraging feedback from families, particularly around being able to access support while waiting for health services. Local providers are working to reduce assessment waiting times and are testing new approaches in partnership with primary care.

We know there is still much more to do, and we remain committed to making further improvements. We will continue to work with parent carers to shape services in Sussex and make a positive difference for children and young people with SEND as a priority.

Parent Carer Voices Shaping National Conversations 

Thank you for supporting participation in the Government’s SEND Reform White Paper Consultation.

The experiences and priorities shared by parent carers across West Sussex helped shape both WSPCF‘s response and the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) submission to the Department for Education.

Through the Sussex Parent Carer Forum Collaborative, these views were also raised with the Secretary of State for Education by Alison Bennett MP, helping to inform national SEND discussions.

Our full response, the NNPCF submission and our letter to Sussex MPs, are on our website: Read our response and the full article here

How can you help?

Representing the voices of parent carers is at the heart of everything we do, and we couldn't do it without the support of local professionals.

• Become a professional member to stay connected to our work and the experiences of SEND families in West Sussex, delivered directly to your inbox - Join here
• Share our surveys and opportunities to be heard, so more parent carers can feed into shaping services - Have Your Voice Heard
• Share our events and opportunities with the families you work with, helping more parent carers feel supported and informed - WSPCF Events
• Join our Together for Change panel, to submit your work or attend to share your views and feedback, helping us shape services together - Together for Change
• Help more parent carers access trusted information, practical advice and support through our guides - WSPCF Guides

Together, we can ensure lived experience continues to inform and shape local SEND services.

For more information, visit www.wspcf.org.uk or contact us at office@wspcf.org.uk.

Loneliness and social isolation are common challenges for parent carers of children and young people with SEND. Finding a tribe of like minded parents who understand your situation and can help you build networks of support are important steps to combating isolation and helping parents build knowledge, resilience and self confidence. 

Reaching Families Umbrellas support groups have been built to tackle these very issues. Based in Bognor Regis, Burgess Hill, Horsham, Littlehampton, Shoreham, Worthing and online via Zoom, our groups promote community inclusion and belonging. For new attendees, our groups can sometimes be the first step to accessing a range of other support - whether Reaching Families services like befriending or benefits advice, or from visiting guests like Early Help, SENDIAS and other providers. It's also where parents start to make connections with other parents. They come to realise they are not alone and can access a mine of knowledge and experiences that help them on their journey. 

Our groups are a welcoming, friendly and relaxed space for parent carers. Our team of outreach coordinators are on hand to help new attendees settle in, meet people and advise on other support they can access. For further information on Umbrellas and the many other ways we can support you please visit www.reachingfamilies.org.uk 

Our libraries do far more than just one thing. Over the past 100 years, they have changed and grown to meet the needs of people of all ages and at every stage of life. With 36 front doors across West Sussex, we help people make the most of their lives. We do this by promoting books and reading, encouraging children, young people and their families to join in activities, supporting people to connect with others, and providing reliable, up-to-date information through our enquiry and signposting service.

Libraries are important - they are accessible and welcoming public spaces, with a diverse and knowledgeable workforce. Our offer of free specialist resources and inclusive events and activities mean the Library Service is uniquely placed to manage the West Sussex Disability Register. The register helps the local authority and partners to better understand the needs of children and young people to help plan and deliver services. Joining the register is voluntary and in West Sussex the child or young person does not need a diagnosis to join.

Register members can choose to receive an enhanced library card, enabling them to reserve library stock and borrow audiobooks without charge. A free monthly newsletter shares information about partner services and information as well as SEND-friendly events the Disability Register team organise and deliver in libraries. The team have hosted a variety of activities from graffiti-art workshops, coding with Minecraft, manga and author events, and most recently the launch of Dungeons & Dragons for teens and young adults. When it is time to renew their membership, young people can choose a free book from a selection of titles recommended by their peers.

West Sussex County Council has created an online summer safety webpage for residents. It includes important advice and guidance to help families stay safe over the summer period.

Please share this link so that together, we can help keep families safe this summer.

Every year, June marks Gypsy, Roma & Traveller (GRT) History Month across the UK and the national theme this year is 'Onwards with Hope', with a focus on aspirations and dreams.  Schools in West Sussex are marking this really important month with various activities involving their children and members of their local Traveller communities.

Eastergate Primary are showing a wonderful animation in their assembly called Roads from the Past - a short history of Britain's Gypsies, Roma and Travellers.  Children from Eastergate, Chidham Primary and other primary schools also recently attended an online ‘Storytelling and Song’ event, led by children’s author Richard O’Neill, specifically to mark GRT History Month.

At Shipley Primary, members of the Traveller Education Support (TES) team (part of Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service - EMTAS) worked with children, staff and parents to develop a booklet around the safe and respectful use of catapults. This project focused on the history and cultural significance of catapults in GRT communities, and the importance of using them safely.

EMTAS have also been working in various schools to celebrate other different aspects of Traveller culture this month, including supporting children to enter the recent national GRT History Month art competition, and recently heard more examples from schools at this term’s TES Network Meeting.

For more information about GRT History Month including resources and updates from other West Sussex schools, please see the Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month - 2026 newsletter.

What are Short Breaks?

Short breaks provide fun, leisure and social activities for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities outside the school day.

This enables them to try new experiences, learn new skills, develop friendships, confidence and have fun! Some activities can involve the whole family too.

Activities are delivered by a wide range of experienced providers across the whole of the County.

Who can attend?

Short Breaks are available to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities under 18 year of age, who are resident in West Sussex.

How to sign up?

We encourage families to sign-up early by contacting their chosen suppliers directly. Suppliers will be able to give you details of their waiting lists.

You can find out more about Short Breaks on the Local Offer website or by reading the Short Breaks Statement 2025 - 2028.

What do parent carers and families think about the Short Breaks programme?

’’All staff are friendly helpful and make my son feel brave to take part in challenges and activities. They go above and beyond’’.

’’The provider has given ‘Z’ a sense of belonging. Additionally, family days have created meaningful chances for him to bond and positively develop his relationship with his twin brother. Whenever ‘Z’ is with the provider, we feel at ease, knowing he’s in the care of staff who truly understand his needs, giving us some much-needed respite.’’

Thank you to the 111 SENCOs who joined us for an inspiring and thought-provoking day at the Crowne Plaza. It was amazing to see so many of you there and we have enjoyed reading your overwhelmingly positive feedback. 

These are interesting times and there is an appetite for change in how we support our children and young people with SEND. The keynote speeches from Whole Education (Gary Aubin and Bart Shaw) were relevant and got to the heart of what motivates SENCOs. 

Gary talked about the frustration of working in a SEND system that is all about statutory processes which eat away at SENCOs’ time. He referenced the key themes of SEND Reform: mainstream settings meeting more needs; children’s needs being understood holistically, including when they have SEND; teaching and learning being at the heart of how to meet those needs; everyone as a part of the solution. 

Gary believes that the best inclusive practice should be invisible with support embedded in universal practice that is vital for some, useful for others, and harms no-one. He urged us to have a joyous ownership of our children with SEND, and to be consistent in our principles and flexible in our practices.