City of York Council has unveiled a new draft strategy to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families in York.
Young people, parents and carers, schools and health and childcare professionals are being invited to share their views on the draft strategy over the next few months.
The five-year strategy, entitled Inclusion and Belonging, sets out to help every child and family in York feel that they belong at school, in their community, and in the wider city.
The strategy has been developed through extensive co-production with young people with SEND and their families. It outlines ten key priorities including:
- ensuring that the voice and visibility of children and young people is most important
- ensuring that children and young people’s needs are identified at the earliest opportunity
- making sure that the right support is available at the right time
Cllr Bob Webb, the council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said:
We want all children and young people to feel that they belong in our city. Their views, together with those of their families, carers, and childcare and health professionals, are essential.
"We want to hear people’s experiences, ideas, and concerns so we can create a final strategy that reflects real lives and needs; one which helps make a significant different to the lives of local children and young people with SEND and their families."
You can have your say in various ways:
- In person: At the Gateway Centre in Acomb on Tuesday 15 July 11-1pm and Monday 21 July 5-7pm
- Complete an online survey: www.york.gov.uk/consultations
- Complete a paper survey: Available from Customer Services at West Offices
For more information visit www.york.gov.uk/consultations.
City of York Council is also inviting schools, parents, carers, and young people to share their views on the development of York’s Autism and ADHD Strategy as this work is closely linked to York’s Inclusion and Belonging Strategy.
Inclusion means recognising and valuing all kinds of diversity, including neurodiversity. For children and young people with autism or ADHD, feeling understood, supported, and included at school and in the community is key to a sense of belonging.
You can have your say on the draft Autism and ADHD Strategy at the same events as for the SEND strategy, or complete the online survey at www.york.gov.uk/consultations
The survey will run from Tuesday 15 July until Sunday 7 September. Feedback will be used to shape the final strategy.