
What we’re doing to improve our local area partnership SEND services
SEND improvement updates: March
What we’re doing to improve our local area partnership SEND services
The local area partnership is working through the Priority Action Plan and SEND Improvement Plan following the outcome of the 2024 Ofsted and CQC inspection.
Here you will find some key updates on what we have been working on:
‘Stock Take’ review session
As part of our improvement journey, the Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England have carried out a ‘Stock Take’ review session with the local area partnership. They looked at our plans and spoke to senior officers to monitor the progress we’re making to improve services for children and young people with SEND. The DfE and NHS England will now write a letter to share their views on our progress, which we will publish as soon as we receive it.
PINS – Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools
Worcestershire will be part of the next wave of the national programme Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS). PINS aims to work in partnership with parent carer forums, primary schools and local services to develop inclusive provision. Introducing improvements that will benefit all pupils will also increase support for pupils with SEND, particularly those who have neurodivergent needs.
PINS will focus on earlier support for neurodiverse children and young people in 30 Worcestershire primary schools. The project will focus on improving outcomes for all pupils by:
- understanding pupils experience of schools
- developing a whole school inclusive approach
- developing inclusive and supportive learning environments
- developing good quality training to upskill staff across schools
- parent peer support groups
How it will work
PINS will bring together health, education specialists and expert parent carers (through the Worcestershire Parent Carer Forum) to:
- identify 30 Worcestershire primary schools to work with to deliver PINS
- work with those schools to understand what is working well and where support is needed
- develop the support and intervention offer for each school
- upskill school staff
- support strengthening of partnerships between the schools and parent carers
The programme will run from April 2025-March 2026. The Local Authority, NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire and Worcestershire Parent Carer Forum will work together to identify the schools that are eligible to take part. This will be done by analysing data on education, health and local need. A full list will be published on the SEND Local Offer website.
If you are a parent carer and would like to get involved with this project, please contact the Parent Carer Forum: Worcs Parent Carer Forum.
Melo – New 0 to 25 years Early Intervention and Preventative Wellbeing and Mental Health Service
On the 1 April 2025, ONSIDE will take over the delivery of the children's and young people's 0 to 25 years early intervention and preventative wellbeing and mental health service in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Commissioned by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB, ONSIDE will be delivering a new service called Melo. Melo has been developed together with families and young people, as well as professionals from across the system, to create a model which puts children and families at the heart of service delivery.
Types of support within the service include:
- 1:1 short support – for those who need specific support around a particular issue
- 1:1 support - for those who have a range of needs and require more than a short period of support
- group support on demand – for cohorts of young people who would benefit from group sessions to build emotional resilience and coping skills
- group support rolling programme – for individuals who would benefit from group support to improve coping skills and emotional resilience within a supportive setting, including those with specific needs including neurodiversity
Children and young people can refer themselves directly for support, or professionals and family members can make referrals on their behalf.
Information on accessing and referring into the new service, Melo, will be available on the ONSIDE website from 1 April 2025.
Preparing for Independence event
A free event for parent carers of young people with SEND will take place on Wednesday 14th May at Kidderminster College. Preparing for Independence offers the opportunity to for parent carers to connect with local services and support networks that will support young people as they move into adulthood. Parent carers can speak with professionals and other families to gain advice and support.
The event will take place from 4pm to 6pm at Kidderminster College, Market Street, Kidderminster.
Complete a form to book your free place:
Preparing for Independence Parents and Carers Evening
Free training for parent carers and professionals
Herefordshire and Worcestershire SENDIASS provide free SEND Training Workshops and Webinars for parent carers and professionals. They have released new dates up to the end of the academic year including their brand new workshop Supporting Young People with SEND: Preparing for Adulthood. Find out more about the other training offered by SENDIASS on their website: SENDIASS training.
Award nomination for specialist/mainstream partnership working
National Star and HOW College partnership has been shortlisted in the ‘Innovated specialist/mainstream partnership working’ category for the 2025 Natspec Innovation Awards. These awards recognise and celebrate innovative practice in specialist Further Education colleges. They shine a light on initiatives that have clearly resulted in improved outcomes for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
Funded by Worcestershire County Council - Heart of Worcestershire College, in partnership with National Star, is now offering specialist education to support young adults with disabilities in building independence and life skills. Find out more about the course on the HOW College website: National Star | Heart of Worcestershire College.
We will be providing updates each month, however please look through the other information on this page to find out more about how you can get involved with our improvement journey.
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