Special Educational Needs and Disabilities updates and news
This page has updates for parents, carers and families of any news, updates, consultations and events that are happening locally.
Last updated: 3 February 2025
Short Breaks statement update – have your say!
We are currently updating and revising our Short Breaks statement to ensure it meets the needs of children, young people, and families.
What Are Short Breaks?
Short Breaks provide children and young people with disabilities opportunities to have fun, develop new skills, and build independence while giving their families a break from their caring responsibilities. These can include activities during the day, support in the home or community, specialist overnight stays. The aim is to enhance well-being for both the child and their family in Southampton. We value your feedback and invite you to share your views.
Deadline for feedback: 10 March 2025
Your input is essential in shaping a service that provides the right support. Please share your thoughts with us via email: localoffer@southampton.gov.uk.
Time Limited Mainstream Inclusion Grant
Southampton City Council had allocated funding in the High Needs block to support the implementation of the SEND Mainstream Funding Cluster Model proposal.
Due to the changed timeframe of the SEND Mainstream Funding Cluster Model proposal to include further co-production on the proposal in the Autumn Term of the 2024-2025 Academic Year and a trial of the process without funding in the Spring Term of the 2024-2025 academic year, a percentage of that allocated funding remained available.
Find out more about the Time Limited Mainstream Inclusion Grant.
Workforce development improvement plan
As part of the 2024 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) post-inspection improvement plan, we are seeking to understand skills and confidence across all areas of SEND from all workforce areas.
This audit will support the strategic workstream based around this area of the improvement plans.
Find out more about the improvement plan.
School Travel Service Consultation/Changes to School Travel policies for 2025-26
We've updated our School Travel Service Policy and Post-16 Travel Service Policy Statement for the 2025-26 school year. These changes help us manage the increasing number of children and young people needing travel support and rising costs, while continuing to provide this important service.
The updated policies reflect our commitment to supporting students' access to education. Learn more about the School Travel Service, and read all about our updates and changes.
2024 SEND post-inspection improvement plan
The Southampton Local Area SEND partnership had a full SEND inspection in May 2024 and the judgement was as follows:
“The local area partnership’s arrangements lead to inconsistent experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The local area partnership must work jointly to make improvements.”
An improvement plan has been co-produced with a range of stakeholders to address the specific recommendations in the report.
View the improvement plan.
Local Area Joint SEND Inspection
Southampton City Council and their partners were inspected by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to see how well they work together to improve the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The inspection took place between 26 April and 17 May 2024. The full inspection report has now been published.
SEND Mainstream Funding Cluster Model
We are suggesting that Higher Needs SEND funding move to a Cluster Model for Mainstream School settings within Southampton.
Find out more and have your say at SEND Mainstream Funding Cluster Model.
School Travel Service update
View the latest update regarding the School Travel Service.
How to improve your child's school attendance and where to get support
As a parent, it can be difficult to know when to send your child into school if they are feeling unwell or anxious, but finding solutions is a team effort between schools, parents and children, and there is support and information available to help you make the best decision for your child.
Read more about the campaign and find support and guidance at Education Hub.
