This consultation is part of Norfolk County Council's Strategy for Special Educational Needs, which is developing new, specialist provision for children and young people with special educational needs. Following previous consultations focused towards parents / carers of children and young people with special educational needs, we would like to seek views regarding the location of specialist resource bases from parents and the community for a number of specific schools.

We want to have 54 specialist resource bases, to be located in schools throughout the County, with each having facilities to provide the equivalent of ten full-time places for children and young people who have been identified as requiring specialist support.

We now want to seek the views of all who are associated with the individual schools where changes in provision are being developed. We're consulting people about our ideas from 8 June to 19 July 2009 and everyone's views are welcome.

This initial consultation will end on 19 July 2009. At the end of this period, County Council Cabinet will carefully consider the responses to the consultation before making a decision about the way forward. If the Council decides to proceed with these developments in specific schools there would then be a six-week statutory consultation period via public notices to allow for further formal responses. This information will then form part of the final recommendations report due to go to Norfolk County Council Cabinet Members on 14 September 2009.

As such, please find attached a copy of the consultation document and flyer. The attached document sets out the background to the proposals, as well as the individual locations and specialisms of the resource bases to form the basis of consultation with stakeholders. Leaflets for stakeholders will be distributed across Norfolk, mainly through schools, to make sure that stakeholders are aware of the consultation and are able to access further information and register their views. When these leaflets arrive at your school, please would you make sure they are displayed where parents can see them, and are given to relevant school staff.

From the 8 June 2009, the consultation paper in full and response form will be available online for people to view and respond by clicking on either:

www.norfolk.gov.uk/senstrategy or www.yournorfolkyoursay.org.

We are encouraging people to view and respond online. However, you can also request additional paper copies by calling the Special Educational Needs Strategy Team on 0344 800 8020, or by emailing us at SENStrategy@norfolk.gov.uk.

We welcome your views and opinions and hope that the development of these new specialist resource bases across Norfolk will help us to provide better support for children and young people with special educational needs.