Working together

Take a look at how we work with children and young people with SEND, and their families, to shape our services.

You can read our SEND strategy to learn more about our vision and priorities for supporting children.

And you can also find out more about the work we are doing to transform our services so that children and young people with SEND, and their families, receive the right support at the right time and in the right place so they can thrive.

Working together with children and young people with SEND and their families

In working together, we will:

• listen, hear their views and try to understand what is behind the challenges they face
• work together effectively as the best way to provide the right support, in the right place and at the right time
• work with the whole family to support them to find their own solutions and build on their strengths
• base our support around their community and provide the help they need as early as possible

Devon’s SEND strategy for 2021-2024 has been produced in collaboration with families and sets out how we will help improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families. It sets out our vision, key priorities and details of how we will check we are making a difference.

Following an inspection in 2022, Devon County Council and NHS Devon were asked to make improvements in four specific areas of weakness. You can read our Accelerated Progress Plan (APP) 2021-24 which explains what we are going to do to address these.

The APP is part of our wider whole system transformation of our SEND services. You can learn more about what is included in the transformation programme. Our transformation plans include a focus on getting the right help early on, and in a timely way, so that children and young people are supported to attend their local schools as much as possible. Additionally, there is a commitment to deliver an updated strategy that will focus on every stage of a child’s life from early years right through to post-16 support and preparing for adulthood.

We also publish some figures about the number of children being supported in Devon along with performance statistics at how Devon is performing.

Get involved

There are opportunities for parents, carers and young people to get involved and have your say to help shape SEND services across Devon.

You can also join the Disability Network which brings with it a range of benefits.

Of course, things sometimes go wrong so we have provided this guidance on what you should do if you want to raise a concern or make a complaint.

Professionals

Guidance, policies and resources to help professionals working in schools can be found at policies and resources for schools.