New SEND strategy is set to be analysed

A NEW draft strategy to improve the outcomes of children with special educational needs will be presented to councillors next week.

It details how services across education, health and care come together so that most children attend a local school that meets their needs effectively.

It also explains the council’s plans to ensure that there are sufficient specialist education places for children and young people, and for these to be within the Barnsley borough, wherever possible.

Coun Trevor Cave, cabinet spokesperson for children’s services, said: “We want this strategy to reflect what things mean in real life to the children, young people, parents, and carers, who use our services.

“In developing this strategy, we have looked at what is important to children and young people and what they want to do in their lives now, and in the future.

“We also looked at how children, young people, and their families want services to work with them, from the review and design stage into the services they have access to for support.

“This strategy forms a central part of the council priorities both for a healthy Barnsley and a learning Barnsley. These, of course are fundamental in our ambition for an inclusive Barnsley leading to future economic and social prosperity.”