The survey is available until Sunday 26 March 2023. Parents and carers can complete the survey online (www.portsmouthlocaloffer.org) or paper copies can be requested from your child’s school or college by emailing eandsc@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Since the last parent carer survey in 2021, the council has made significant investment in SEND provision in the city:
- New specialist provision has opened or been expanded including inclusion centres at Penbridge and The Portsmouth Academy
- An extension to the Flying Bull inclusion centre
- Wymering special free school will open after Easter, supporting pupils with a neurodiverse profile and distressed or challenging behaviour.
- Arundel Court inclusion centre is set to open in the Autumn term
Cllr Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education at Portsmouth City Council, said:
“Portsmouth is an extremely inclusive city and has excellent services for young people with SEND.
“As a result of the feedback on the last survey, we have extended the Inclusion Outreach Service to ensure all our schools are confident to support pupils with special needs.
“The new multi-disciplinary neurodiversity team has been established, working with schools and directly with families so that families feel listened to and can work on things that are important to them, including progress at school, getting on with others and making friends, and going out and about more confidently.
“We have worked with parents and professionals across the city to develop our neurodiversity profile and support tool and provided training for professionals so there is a better understanding of the needs of our children and young people and how to meet them.
“We will continue to work with families and young people to get their ideas and input to help shape services in a way that works best for them.
“I urge all parents and carers with a young person 0-25 in Portsmouth to fill out the survey to help us plan for the future.”