On this page you will find details of SEND related surveys and consultations (most recent first). These come from a variety of sources.
Where possible we also publish the survey or consultation results and keep our parent network informed about any further developments.
The Parliamentary SEND Inquiry report has just been published 23rd October 2019.
HPCI submitted a response to the Inquiry along with 525 organisations and individual parents and young people. You can read the whole Inquiry findings here Whole report and the Summary here: Summary
HPCI’s response is included in the whole report (number 137) and our umbrella organisation the NNPCF (National Network of Parent Carer Forums) also submitted a response (number 207).
Our view remains that the reforms are the right ones but a number of factors, funding shortages being a key one, have meant that they are not yet having a positive enough impact on our families lives and the futures of our children.
We also feel that all of the recommendations of the SEND Inquiry are valid and would help to improve the situation. We wait to see what shape the Department for Education’s own, recently announced, SEND Review will take but of course HPCI will contribute to it at the appropriate time.
HPCI has also submitted a response to the Department for Education’s Funding consultation earlier this summer which you can read here HPCI response to DfE Funding cons 2019.
HPCI also produces a number of position statements on various topics in the SEND system there are currently 9 of these on topics such as Specialist Provision and Inclusion, ENF Funding, SEN Support, EHC Plans and Exclusions.
These can be found on this website https://www.hertsparentcarers.org.uk/position-statements/
——————————————————————————————————————————————————
ADULT SERVICES OVERNIGHT RESPITE CONSULTATION 02/09/19-02/11/19
HPCI has recently been made aware that Herts County Council Adult Services announced a review of its Short Breaks service (overnight respite) on 2nd Sept. All the information, including the survey, can be found at:
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/consultations/adult-social-services/short-breaks-respite-consultation.aspx
The proposal is to close 3 centres: 1. Hixberry Lane (St Albans) 2. Isabel Court (Hoddesden) and 3. Tewin Road (Hemel)
Herts County Council says that of the 8 centres in the county several are underused and that since the 3 centres above require a lot of input to the actual buildings, they propose to close them and transfer everyone to one of the less used centres or offer alternative packages with a more personalised approach possibly using direct payments.
This would inevitably involve families having to travel longer distances and raises other issues too.
HPCI is concerned that adult services may not have taken into account the increasing numbers of young people with SEND coming through the system to adult services with more complex needs such as complex health needs or behaviour that challenges and how their families will be affected by these changes in the future. This may lead to increasing pressure to find appropriate residential settings and homes for young adults with SEND because their carers (who will be ageing themselves) need a break and this will be more expensive than local respite units.
Adult services are holding 9 consultation meetings that started on 11th September and run through until 1st November. The remaining ones are:
30/10/2019 13:00-15:00 Fleetville Community Centre, Royal Road, St Albans AL1 4LQ
01/11/2019 14:00-16:00 Kings Langley Services Club, 3 Hempstead Road, Kings Langley WD4 8BJ
If you feel this may affect your family in the future then please make your views known.
