Your voices are making a difference Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have today published their Local Area Partnership Report following the recent inspection in Bath and North East Somerset (BANES). We want to start by saying a huge thank you to all of you who continually share your experiences, feedback and ideas with…
Our team is taking a well-earned break from Monday 10th August until Monday 24th August. Emails and answerphone messages will not be monitored. For other sources of help and support during this time, please take a look at the following pages: For safeguarding concerns, please refer to: We hope that you are all enjoying at…
SEND Inspection in Bath & North East Somerset – June 2026 This month, Bath & North East Somerset’s Local Area Partnership will take part in a SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This is a normal check that happens in all areas. It is about how…
Since last week’s publication of the White Paper our team has been attending briefing sessions to better understand its contents and potential implications. We will be holding our own sessions for members in March and April. The Consultation Period runs until May 18th. In the meantime, the Department for Education (DfE) has published a series…
B&NES local authority is anticipating a Local Area SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) Inspection very soon. They have shared the following guidance for parents and carers with us to help explain the process and allay any concerns. What happens during an area SEND inspection. Your views are important. There are several ways you can be involved…
Supporting children and young people with additional needs works best when families and schools share a clear understanding of what help should be available. The Council has worked with schools, professionals, and local partners to develop the Inclusion and SEND Commitment – B&NES’ Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP), to help make this clearer for everyone. This…
There’s understandably a lot of anxiety around the forthcoming SEND White Paper. While we know it’s on its way, we don’t yet have a confirmed release date or details of what it will include. Please be reassured that as soon as it is published, we will be arranging supportive consultation sessions and making sure members’…
The BANES Parent Carer Forum is inviting applications for members to join our new Advisory Group. This is a valuable opportunity to share your experience, influence decisions, and support families across the local community. Previous expertise is not necessary, but we do ask for lived experience of SEND whether that’s as a parent or professional….
In a new addition to the newsletter and website, we are pleased to share some news and updates from the Local Authority. New SEND Support Guide Just Launched! We’re excited to share the launch of Our Plan for SEND – a brand-new online guide from Bath & North East Somerset Council that explains how the…
Our festive newsletter landed this week. There are updates on events for next year as well as tips from the team for surviving the season. Please let us know if there are subjects you’d like to see included in future editions and make sure you’re signed up as a member to get the newsletter straight…