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…
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…
The PCF team are all parent carers too, so we will be taking a break over the festive period to navigate the season with our own families. The office and support line will close on Friday 19th December and re-open on Monday 5th January. We have compiled a list below of some National Organisations that…
While the festive season can be full of sparkle and excitement, it can also be a tricky time for many SEND families. Changes to routine, busy environments, lots of noise, and extra social demands can feel overwhelming, even when they come with the best intentions. What’s often meant to be joyful can sometimes be exhausting,…
Could you be our next non-Executive Director? B&NES Parent Carer Forum (PCF) is led and run by local parent carers to ensure the voices of disabled children, young people and their families in B&NES are heard by service providers We are set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC), which is primarily operated for community…
Our latest newsletter landed this week. It’s full of information that we hope you’ll find useful – there’s an update from Social Care about the new Families First programme, mentions of up coming PCF events and a feature about PINS (Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools). Please let us know if there are subjects…