Parents in South East Wales are being invited to attend any one of a number of meetings being held to seek views on the provision of sensory and communication services in the region, as part of an independent review.
Known as SENCOM, the service is currently delivered regionally across Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Newport, Monmouthshire and Torfaen. It supports additional learning needs in specialised areas including speech, language and communication, and visual, hearing and multi-sensory impairments. About 1500 children and young people currently receive support from SENCOM, across the five authorities.
In May 2019. the partner local authorities involved in SENCOM requested the WLGA to commission an independent expert to review and report on the service to explore a more sustainable way to deliver the regional model. The independent consultant, Mr Mark Geraghty, has since arranged a number of meetings to consult with parents and stakeholders as part of the review.
Mark Geraghty said:
“An important part of the evidence gathering process is listening to the views of children, young people and the families who receive a service from one or more of the SENCOM’s teams.
“In all the meetings I’ve attended so far across all levels, the passion and desire to ensure children and young people with a speech, language and communication, hearing and visual impairments receive high quality support and appropriate resources, has been manifestly apparent.
“As such, I look forward to welcome parents to any of the meetings arranged to discuss with us their experiences of SENCOM. These views will be vital to the review in order to ensure evidence-based decision making.”
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS
The dates and locations for all meetings are as follows:
- 12th November 1.30pm and 6.00pm
Newport Centre, NP20 1UH
Paula Halsall - Newport CC
01633 210626
- 14th November 10.00am and 6.00pm
Cwmbran Stadium, NP44 3YS
Tracey Hall - Torfaen CBC
01495 766903
County Hall, Usk, NP15 1GA
Julie Owen - Monmouthshire CC
01633 644512
Tŷ Penallta, Ystrad Mynach, CF82 7PG
Sarah Ellis - Caerphilly CBC
01443 866618
Tŷ Penallta, Ystrad Mynach, CF82 7PG
Sarah Ellis - Caerphilly CBC
01443 866618
County Hall, Usk, NP15 1GA
Julie Owen - Monmouthshire CC
01633 644512
- 21st November 10.00am and 6.00pm
Ebbw Vale Action Learning Centre, NP23 6JG
Gavin Metheringham - Blaenau Gwent CBC
01495 355010
- Parents and stakeholders are also welcome to provide their feedback via a questionnaire, which can be found on this link: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SenCom
- For more information, please contact David Hopkins, WLGA Interim Head of Education on David.hopkins@wlga.gov.uk