Although we work closely with the Barnsley SEND Community Consortium, our Co-Production Survey gave us clear messages about how families in Barnsley wanted to work with us. They wanted a blended approach to ways that they could get involved, and the opportunity to participate on varying levels depending on their circumstances at the time. As a result of this insight we have worked with parents and carers to develop a range of participation opportunities across the local area to enable families to participate in the way that works best for them.
Excluding coercion, we believe all of the steps on the ladder are important, one cannot happen without the other. Due to this we ensure we have a range of opportunities available that, although co-ordinated, allow for participation on different levels.
56.13 % of people who completed the co-production survey told us that they wanted us to meet separate groups of children, young people, parents and carers, and then we pull together the findings. This is achieved by the SEND participation team regularly attending and supporting the engagement of local SEND community groups. This allows for a wider reach into groups that are not part of the consortium as well as those that are, and enables them to participate in work that is taking place across the local area. They meet them in their own environments and use ways that work best for the individual groups, ensuring that they can participate to the level that they want to.
64.95% of people who filled in the co-production survey told us that they wanted a specific Facebook page for co-production in SEND. This has been created and you can like and follow the SEND Co-Production Barnsley page here. The page shares opportunities related to participation and having your say.
The Barnsley SEND “Local Offer Working Together” group gives members of the SEND community to shape our Local Offer, determine how they want information to look and ensure it is accessible. This is a further opportunity available in Barnsley for co-production and having your say. The Local Offer Website uses feedback forms and has it’s own Facebook page which enables participation of those who don’t want to attend a meeting. You can like and follow Barnsley's SEND Local Offer Facebook page here
70.56% of people who filled in the co-production survey told us they wanted to find information out about co-production opportunities and updates through a dedicated email list that people can sign up to. Young people, parents and carers can now register with the SEND Participation Team, which enables the team to send emails containing information that families may find useful. As part of recent developments within the SEND Participation Team, we are currently in the process of merging this list with our Disabled Children’s Register to ensure a smooth approach to sharing information with families, as well as using the data to help plan our local area services.
71.50% of people who filled in the co-production survey told us that they wanted to find information out through schools and early years settings. In response to this the Participation Team are now attending parent/carer events in 41.5% of schools across Barnsley and the number is growing every term. This means that parents and carers are able to participate at all stages in their SEND journey and have access to opportunities from the very start. These are mainly parents and carers who are not part of community groups, and are involved through their child attending a school or setting.
In addition to this parents and carers can get involved in specific pieces of work that are being led by services that support children with SEND in both the Local Authority and the ICB as well as specific strategies and engagement opportunities.
Parents and carers of children with SEND are also able to get involved with their local Family Hubs and universal participation opportunities.