Plans to improve the way children and young people are supported in their early years, schools years and into adult life are being shared for consideration.

Gloucestershire County Council is looking to improve the outcomes and life experiences of children and young people and as they move into adulthood. It is also setting out how children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are supported.

The number of children who need help and support because they have learning difficulties or they struggle to cope with life at school, continues to grow. The council has outlined how it intends to support children throughout their journey into adulthood in its draft Inclusion Strategy and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy 2022-2025.

A period of public engagement is now underway, running until April 27 and views are being sought on the council's:

• Vision for SEND and Inclusion in Gloucestershire
• Proposed ways of working
• Priorities within the strategy documents

Cllr Philip Robinson, cabinet member for economy, education and skills, said: "The knowledge, insight and lived experiences of our parent/carers are what makes them experts and in order to get this right, it's crucial their voices are heard as part of this engagement process, as well as those working across education, health and social care.

"These strategies are timely, as we start to emerge from a global pandemic that has had an unprecedented effect on all our children and young people, and particularly the most vulnerable. These strategies are for the benefit of children in Gloucestershire, so any feedback we gather will prove valuable in the process of ensuring that our plans really do make a difference."

The survey is aimed at those working within education, health and social care as well as parents/carers and most importantly, the young people themselves. Their feedback will inform the final strategies.

The strategies can be viewed here and online survey to gather feedback is available here.

In addition to the survey, three webinar events will be held for people to attend. The online sessions will be hosted by Phil Haslett, Head of Education Strategy and Development at Gloucestershire County Council and Amanda Henderson, Head of SEND at Gloucestershire County Council. They will take place on:

• 12 April - 10am - 11am
• 14 April - 1pm - 2pm
• 27 April - 5pm - 6pm

The final versions of the strategy documents will be considered by the council's cabinet in June.