The Devon SEND Local Area Partnership has shared how it will communicate about improvements for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and their families.
Devon’s Four Cornerstones set out how services across the partnership should work with children, young people and families. The partnership agreed the approach in October 2025 after working closely with SEND families and partner organisations, including Devon County Council, NHS Devon, and Children and Family Health Devon.
The partnership has now agreed a set of communication principles for SEND improvements. These will guide how it works with families, shares information, and reports on progress.
The partnership will communicate in ways that:
- are clear, timely, transparent, and easy to understand
- reduce jargon and acronyms, and explain processes step-by-step
- use plain English
- ensure information is consistent across services and platforms
- provide updates proactively
- close the loop: “Your Voice in Action” will be a visible norm.
Kellie Knott, SEND Strategic Director at Devon County Council, said:
“These communication principles set a clear standard for how we work with children, young people and families. We want people to understand what is changing, why decisions are being made and how their feedback has shaped our work. Being open and accountable will help build confidence in the improvements we are making.”
Su Smart, Director of Women and Children’s Improvement at NHS Devon, said:
“Good communication means giving families clear information at the right time and making sure they feel listened to. These principles will help services work together more effectively, so children and young people receive more joined-up support across education, health and care.”
Julia Bonell, Co-director of Parent Carer Forum Devon, said:
“The message from families has been consistent: communicate clearly, communicate early, and let people know what happens next.
“Parent carers want to see how their feedback influences decisions and improvements, not feel that their views disappear into a void. These principles are a positive step towards building trust and creating a culture where families feel informed, valued and genuinely involved in shaping services.”
Families of children and young people with SEND can take the Four Cornerstones survey on the Devon SEND Local Offer website. It asks people to rate their experience based on Devon’s Four Cornerstones.
What are Devon’s Four Cornerstones?
The cornerstones are:
- Welcome and care – create safe, supportive environments where children, young people and families feel heard, valued and treated with empathy.
- Value and include – recognise strengths, identify needs early, and ensure everyone can participate in decisions that affect them.
- Communicate – listen openly, share information clearly and promptly, and use positive, constructive language.
- Work in partnership – collaborate as equal partners to plan, problem-solve and drive improvements across the system.
Read more about Devon’s Four Cornerstones and how they were co-produced with families and the people who support them on the SEND Local Offer website.
Read the full Four Cornerstones communications principles policy document on the SEND Local Offer website.