SEND Team communication promise to parents, children and young people

We will:

• Ask you your preferred method of contact
• Be honest, transparent and open with you
• Aim to build an effective working relationship with you based on mutual trust and respect
• Carefully consider and respect your preferences. There may be instances where we are unable to act on them fully and in this event, we will explain reasons why
• Offer to put key points of our discussions in writing

During the Education, Health and Care needs assessment process we will contact you:

• When we receive an EHC needs assessment request and explain the next steps and talk to you about your views
• To ask you who the best person is to get your son/daughter’s views
• To explain any decision made by the Local Authority about your child or young person (for example whether or not we are going to conduct an EHC needs assessment and/or issue an EHC Plan) and offer a face-to-face meeting to discuss what will happen next
• To agree with you any additional advice we need to gather
• If we are not able to keep to timescales, to explain the reasons why, and what we are going to do next
• If any advice is late and tell you what we are doing about it
• When all paperwork has been received

If there is a request for a change of type of school (for example from a mainstream school to a special school) we will contact you:

• If we do not have what we need to make an informed decision
• To explain which schools we have approached and the date we expect them to reply

When we will contact you otherwise: 

• By the end of the next working day with any Local Authority decisions. Informing you of decisions will take place at the same time as informing the school, ensuring all parties know what is happening at the same time.
• Within 3 working days of receiving your email/telephone message
• Every 14 days with an update if your child or young person currently has a proposed amended ( EHC ) Plan

You can help us by:

• If your email is to more than one person, please let us know who you would like to respond
• Always approaching your 0-25 SEND Officer in the first instance. If then needed, your next point of contact is the  SEND Team Leader.
• Understanding that we may not be able to make progress in any ongoing matters with your child or young persons’ situation during short periods (e.g. 3 days) when your 0-25 SEND Officer is absent or on leave. Wherever possible, parent carers will be informed in advance of any leave. All 0-25 SEND Officers have a cover system in place in the event of longer-term absence and their name and how to contact them will be detailed on their ‘out of office’ email reply.