Our vision and strategy 

Our vision is that all children and young people with SEND have brighter futures, fulfilled lives and are part of their local communities, so that they: 

• experience inclusion in every aspect of their lives 
• achieve their full potential 
• are partners, alongside their families, in developing provision and services.

This vision has been developed from what children and young people with SEND and their families have told us is important to them, complimented by our knowledge of the outcomes and experiences of children and young people with SEND in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area. 

Our strategy for the future 

Our SEND improvement plan sets out how we will improve services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The improvement plan – called a 'written statement of action' – was produced by BCP Council and NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and co-produced with parents, carers and partners.

You can read a summary version of our improvement plan here.

You can read the full version of our written statement of action here.

About the SEND Improvement Board 

The SEND Improvement Board was established in August 2020, it has an independent Chair and is accountable to the Health & Wellbeing Board.  It has representation from across partners and drives forward improvement across the SEND system in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (see the Terms of Reference).  

Parents and carers are represented on the SEND Improvement Board through Parent Carers Together (PCT) – a parent carer forum set up to represent the voices of Parent Carers of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (aged 0 to 25 years). PCT are the council's strategic partner. Through the Board and strategic working groups, they work with partners to make sure services meet the needs of children with SEND and their families. 

Central to all our work is the voice and lived experience of children and young people with SEND. As part of our plans to improve SEND support, we are employing a new participation worker, who will be embedded in the community, listening to the views of children and young people. 

SEND special provision

As a council, we have high aspirations for children and young people with SEND, striving to ensure they achieve their potential and experience inclusion in every aspect of their lives. Read more here.