SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2025 to 2030
Priority 3: High Support Needs
Agencies will work together to ensure that children and young people (CYP) with high support needs or wider vulnerabilities receive timely, appropriate and integrated support.
This is a priority because the complexity of circumstances for CYP with high support needs is not always adequately addressed.
The increasing number of CYP accessing education other than in school (EOTIS) packages highlights the need to focus on those with high support needs. Delays in identifying and supporting these needs can lead to an escalation of issues. This requires:
extensive multi-disciplinary team (MDT) collaboration, specialist support and provision, and strong family support.
Effective support for these CYP requires careful monitoring and expert knowledge. Thorough planning and coordination ensures their diverse needs are met and provide the best possible outcomes for the CYP and their families.
Aspirations
Representatives of children and young people have shared the following aspirations:
- “I am able to socialise in appropriate groups/activities outside of school with confidence, which I am currently unable to do.”
- “I can access a strong support network to assure my well-being both now and in the future.”
- “I am supported outside of the family home in an appropriate setting that will cater for my needs but also nurture and enable me to grow.”
- “I can lead a happy and fulfilling life despite my difficulties, with the right support.”
- “I am part of a society that treats me with the respect I deserve.”
- “I am seen for who I am, and not my high support needs.”
- “I am valued as an individual who has varying needs across a wide range of services”
- “I can live in in-patient care, which is closer to my friends, family and community who can also act as support for me”
- “I am seen as someone with high support needs, not complex needs”
- “The people who support me (family/carers, friends and professionals) are supported to help me to achieve my potential”
- My achievements are not graded on a checklist but against my personal goals”
What we will do
- Complete discovery activity to understand the opportunities to improve:
- multi-agency working
- early-stage planning
- Develop relationships and processes to enable services to work together to support CYP and their families.
- Improve access to short breaks, respite and wider care provision.
- Identify opportunities to improve the post-16 offer for young people with high support needs.