Have your say on. Special Education Needs Post 16 Transport School/college & SEN Staff Consultation

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Moses Owens
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1 Have your say on Special Education Needs Post 16 Transport School/college & SEN Staff Consultation

2 Introduction As you may be aware we are working closely with a range of stakeholders on delivering the government s Special Educational Needs and/or disability (SEND) reform and one of the key themes coming out of that work from young people is the need to promote and encourage independence as they move into adulthood. We believe one of the key ways of doing this is to support young people with SEND to use public transport. The Local Authority also needs to review its policies and practices from time to time and linking these two things together we are consulting on changes to the Council s Transport policy for Post 16 students with a view to promoting independent travel for young people with SEND who attend Further Education schools and colleges. To help us do this we would ask you re SENCO or other appropriate members of staff to fill in this questionnaire so that we can take your views into account when determining the new policy. Change to Policy The Council wants to change how it supports young people with Special Education Needs in getting to post 16 education settings. The Council wants to support young people and their parents and carers, to help them be independent and lead fulfilling lives. Cabinet on 15 January agreed to consult on changes to the Council s home to school transport policy. One of the proposals is to cease the non-statutory Post 16 SEN transport. Those receiving this discretionary support could continue to receive it until their current course of study comes to an end. The Council would like to explore if travel training will contribute towards increasing independence and other such opportunities. The Council will also ask Further Education colleges to extend their bursary funds to include transport for students with additional needs. What is this questionnaire for? This questionnaire is to ask you about what you know about how young people with Special Educational Needs travel to and from school, 6th Form or college, and how they travel when not at school or college. Over recent months many young people, schools, 6th Forms and Colleges have been involved with the planned changes associated with

3 the Special Education Need, and work on Preparation for Adulthood. The Council wants to continue this conversation in respect of developing independence skills for young people associated with travel and increasing opportunity to enter the workplace, further education and enjoy friendships. When will the consultation start and end? The consultation and engagement process commenced in the autumn of 2014 as part of the conversations about Preparing for Adulthood. This part of the consultation builds on this and starts on 2nd February 2015 and will end on 30 th March How to get involved To give us your views, please complete this questionnaire on line at alternatively return this document to the address at the bottom of this page. Copies of this consultation documentation are available in large print and other formats. To request this service please call or e- mail If you require help with completing the questionnaire please contact What we will do with your feedback? The information you give us is private and confidential and we will follow the law including the Data Protection Act The information will be destroyed after it is not needed any more. Your views and the information that you provide will be analysed and will form part of a report to the Council to make a decision on Post 16 SEN Transport. How will I know the outcome of the consultation? When the consultation is complete we will write a report which will tell you what comments and views we have received to inform the plans for the proposed changes. This report will be available on the Council s

4 website with an easy read version. The report can be provided in other formats if requested. Please return this questionnaire to: Mike McSorley Head of Learning Support Sefton Borough Council FREEPOST LV7340 Bootle L20 1YX

5 Tell us what you think School, 6 th form, College Name: Completed by: Job Title: Contact details: 1. The Council wants to help young people with SEN be as independent as possible in the future, including the ability to travel safely on their own as much as possible. Tell us if you think the following are the right things that the Council should be wanting to achieve? Promote independence for young people with SEN travelling to school and college or to meet friends and family Work in partnership with schools and colleges to support young people with SEN to travel on their own Yes No Not sure Enable access to information to support young people with SEN to make good decisions about travelling safely Ensure that you know how to raise concerns about the safety or wellbeing of young people with SEN travelling on their own that they have raised with you

6 If you said no or not sure to any of the above please tell us why 2. What would help you to support young people with SEN to travel safely and independently? (Please tick all that apply) Travel Training so that they can travel safely and independently A mobile phone app to help you and them to plan journeys Practical Journey Assistance How to get there guides Information on support available from train, bus and taxi companies A Travel gadget that helps them let someone know where they are and lets them speak to someone when they need help Something else (please give details) 3. What are the main benefits of travel training for the young people with SEN you care for and support (please tick all that apply)? Getting to school or college Taking part in activities Meeting friends Getting to work in the future

7 Other please tell us what these are 4. In order to support young people with SEN to become as independent as possible and live a fulfilling life do you think that the Council and its partners should:- Provide universal access to good quality information Encourage young people with SEN to keep active and alert by promoting access to local leisure, cultural and community activities Work with bus, train and taxi firms to help them to understand the needs of young people with SEN and provide safe travel journeys Encourage early discussions in families or groups about planning for their travel needs in the future Yes No Not sure 5. Thinking about the changes that the Council is considering, in the future would you like to see young people with SEN in your school, 6th form or college (please tick all that apply) In work Going to college or university Independent and able to do things for themselves Meeting friends and do things like going to the cinema, using leisure centres, parks etc.

8 Other If you said Other please tell us what you would like to see 6. Please use this space to tell us about any problems or issues that you know of that a young person with SEN may have or has had when getting to school or college, visiting family or friends or other leisure activities and what would help them to become more independent when travelling in the future. 7. Do you think we have missed anything? Please use this space to tell us anything you think we should know about how a young person with SEN travels to school. THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART

Children and their families

A Guide to assessments for Children and their families Education, Children s Services & Libraries www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk If you would like a copy of this leaflet in Large print Braille audio tape