Wiltshire Council is inviting families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities to participate in an online session as part of the consultation on the funding for Education, Health and Care Plans.
The consultation proposes changes to how EHCP funding is decided, and how needs are described, so that the council can be confident that children and young people are receiving the support they need. This session will help parent carers understand the proposed funding scheme and give them an opportunity to ask questions.
The consultation is aimed at improving how funds are allocated to schools. Since the funding system was introduced in 2016 it has not been changed and so Wiltshire Council is seeking feedback on how to better align funding with students’ needs, create a simpler and fairer funding process, and ensure that special schools and resource bases receive sufficient support.
The online meeting is scheduled for 5th December from 6pm to 7pm and will be held via Microsoft Teams. Participants are encouraged to download the Teams app in advance to ensure a smooth experience.
People can join the webinar by using this link https://teams.microsoft.com on the day.
Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for SEND, said: “We really want to hear people’s views as part of this EHCP consultation, which runs until midnight on Sunday 5 January. These proposals will change how EHCPs are funded and banded, and so it is important to hear from everyone in our SEND system. We are investing in SEND support including early help and providing additional school places as part of our wider plans. These proposals are part of our ongoing development of a coordinated approach to ensure that children and young people with SEND, along with their families, have access to the right support, in the right place, at the right time. Our commitment to them getting the support they need, will not change.”
The EHCP consultation survey can be found at https://surveys.wiltshire.gov.uk/s/6usoum
Previous SEND and AP webinar can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd0XS5zTGSI
Questions and points for the webinar can also be sent in advance to communications@wiltshire.gov.uk.