Developing the strategy – SEND Strategy consultation 2025
Consultation closes: 1 October 2025
Consultation opened: 10 July 2025
Prior to developing the strategy, we carried out a series of engagement events to ask for feedback on the progress and impact of the current SEND strategy (2022 to 2025).
We hosted 3 online events, and 3 in-person events (the team attended the SNAP Parent Carer Forum Roadshow, the SEND conference and hosted a third event at Flitwick Library) and spoke to over 100 people.
As well as asking for feedback on the priorities in the current strategy, we asked parent carers and professionals to tell us about the challenges they faced regarding our current provision.
Parent carers told us about long waiting times, inconsistent communication, and a lack of clarity around roles and pathways. SENCos (special educational needs co-ordinators) and school leaders shared concerns about rising demand, the capacity of staff, and the emotional toll on school communities. However, families also recognised the positive impact of SEND advisory teams, the increasing training offer, and the development of specialist placements.
We also asked for their thoughts on what an improved SEND strategy would look like. Parent carers were clear that a key feature of its success would be its actual impact and implementation, supported by a framework of actions, objectives and accountability. Feedback from those sessions has been instrumental in shaping the new draft strategy. The 6 priorities outlined in our proposed strategy for 2025 to 2028 have been developed with input from those sessions, as well as SNAP Parent Carer Forum, and professionals from across education, health, and social care.