Key findings and themes

Summary

A survey was co-designed with the Parent Carer Forum to gather feedback to help the Southend City Council SEND Team evaluate the annual review of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

The team wanted to understand:

• the experience of reviewing support for a child/young person
• the impact of support from the EHCP
• the difference it makes to the progress of children and young people and their lives, both in and outside of education
• any gaps in services, community and leisure activities

Parents and Carers were invited to complete the survey if they had been through the annual review process during the academic years 2021-22 or 2022-23.

Survey interaction

The survey was hosted on the Your Say Southend, Southend SEND ‘have your say’ page. The survey was launched in September 2022.

The survey was available in electronic form but there were paper and easy read versions available in schools and settings across Southend, and upon request. Only a few paper surveys were completed.

The survey was advertised on Local Offer social media channels, through the Local Offer website, newsletters and through posters and postcards shared with schools and settings and in letters from the SEND Team.

From September 2022 to July 2023 there was a total of 275 visitors to the Your Say Southend page where the survey is hosted. 33 people registered and 29 people completed the electronic survey and a further 2 completed a paper survey.

Survey findings

The survey was completed by 2.5% of parents and carers in relation to how many annual reviews had taken place in the academic year 2022-23. However, those that completed the survey had children that:

• attended a range of settings; early years setting, mainstream school, special school and college or Further Education institution. The majority of respondents had children in a special school
• reflected a range of special educational needs and disability with the majority of respondents answering that their child had Autism

We learned that just over two thirds of parents and carers were asked and provided their comments about their child’s progress and support ahead of the review meeting. But 3 respondents said they were not asked to provide their views and comments in advance or as part of the meeting.

Most parent and carers answered that if there were involved professionals or specialists they had been invited and contributed their views and comments as part of their child’s review.

Over half of the respondents said they were fully involved in the review of their child’s plan, with just under a third answering they were partially involved. 4 respondents said they did not feel involved.

We asked respondents how involved their child was in the review of the plan. Two thirds answered they were either fully or partially involved. One third answered that they did not feel involved.

Most respondents answered that they felt the support their child is getting was flexible to their needs and is making a positive impact.

We asked respondents what could be better. The way families are involved and communication from the SEND Team were the most selected options.

Just under half of respondents said that their child had a planned transition, but only two thirds said their child’s EHCP was updated for the move. We asked some further questions around transition planning to those who were eligible. Most said they understand the ways their child would be helped before they went to the next stage or setting, and information was shared with everyone that needed to support their child.

Just over half answered they felt their child was supported to get ready for the changes or transition.

Three quarters of respondents said they were happy or mostly happy with how the Education, Health and Care Plan is supporting their child, including things they are involved with outside of school. However, a quarter of respondents selected they were not happy with how the plan is working for their child.

We asked if there were any community services or support groups, they felt were missing that could help them or their child do well. Opportunities to socialise and mix safely in the community was a common theme, with respondents asking for more accessible activities after school, at weekends and school holidays. Respondents wanted more information on preparing for adulthood, post 16 opportunities and work experience placements and access to specialists and mental health professionals.

Throughout the survey we offered the opportunity to provide more information about the review process and what could be done better. We received some really good feedback but were saddened that many provided details of how dissatisfied they were with the process, lack of services or communication from professionals and with the support their child was not receiving. Many respondents did not feel listened to or felt their child’s EHCP was not up to date or reflected their needs.

We asked respondents if they consented to be contacted over two thirds agreed and provided their contact details.

Next steps

The answers to the questions show us that some parents and carers in Southend are not satisfied with their involvement throughout the annual review process or the support their child is receiving. Better communication, advice and guidance in addition to transition and wider community opportunities were common themes.

The SEND Team made some follow up calls with some respondents where an issue was identified.

The SEND Team will be holding a focus group during Autumn 2023, with interested parents and carers to consider these findings and to consider how the annual review process can be better in future. The results of this survey will also be presented to the SEND Area Partnership for consideration of further improvements across the system.

The survey summary results are available upon request.