A new strategy is set to be discussed that improves support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those in Alternative Provision (AP).

The consultation process took a year and has resulted in a strategy entitled “Meeting Needs Together - Ambitious for All”.

Its vision is described as: “To create a future where every young person in Wiltshire has the tools and support needed to thrive and achieve their dreams.

“We want to support children and young people to be aspirational and hopeful, to increase their confidence, to have the resources to live the futures they want to live and to foster a culture of empowerment and inclusion.”

Wiltshire Council’s children select committee will review the document at its upcoming meeting in Trowbridge County Hall.

READ MORE: Wiltshire Council gets £67m funding to support SEND in county

The council worked on the strategy with the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council, people with lived experience of SEND and AP, the Young Pioneers group, early years, schools and colleges, practitioners, the voluntary and community sector, and the BSW ICB.The council worked on the strategy with the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council, people with lived experience of SEND and AP, the Young Pioneers group, early years, schools and colleges, practitioners, the voluntary and community sector, and the BSW ICB. (Image: Jessica Moriarty)

According to the strategy, this will be achieved through six priority areas.

The first one involves children and young people and their families being at the centre of planning, with their views and aspirations heard and acted upon as true partners.

Secondly, the strategy aims to deliver the right support at the right time, identifying and acting on our children’s needs at the earliest opportunity and through promotion of inclusive approaches and practice across the local area.

Thirdly, timely planning should be reflective of the views of the child or young person and parent carers’ current needs and should have clear outcomes.

Additionally, it is hoped that good quality communication and information will allow for families to have a positive experience when navigating services, with information that is easy to access and use.

SEE ALSO: Special educational needs demand in Wiltshire is rocketing

The strategy also has for ambition that the skills, knowledge and training of professionals and officers across the SEND system will enable effective collaboration across services, joint assessments and sharing of good practice.

Finally, children and young people will be prepared for adulthood and experience timely transitions, leading to increased skills, greater independence, and a greater range of opportunities in life.

The report states: “We believe that meeting the needs of every child and young person with SEND or in AP in Wiltshire, is the responsibility of everyone.”

These six priorities, along with the plan for monitoring the strategy’s progress, will be discussed at Wiltshire Council’s children select committee’s meeting on Thursday, September 5.

The strategy is then destined to go to cabinet on Tuesday, September 17.