Consultation on the Location of Complex Needs Schools and Specialist Resource Bases

We are changing the way that our specialist provision works so that special schools become complex needs schools and mainstream school units become specialist resource bases. This is about improving choice and increasing access so that as many of our children and young people with special educational needs as possible will be able to go to school in their local community, in provision designed to meet their individual needs.

The information below has been sent to the families of all children and young people with statements of SEN, schools and stakeholders.

The consultation document and details of drop-in events being held throughout the county are available online (hard copies of the consultation document are available on request).

We are changing the way we support children with special educational needs and we need your help.

At the moment our special schools and units for children with special educational needs aren't all in the right place to best meet the needs of children and young people across Norfolk.

We want to make sure that in the future children and young people can access complex needs schools and specialist resource bases as close to their home as possible. We will not be asking children and young people to move from existing specialist provision to new provision where this is not their choice.

We have some ideas about what could be done to make things better and we want you to help shape the future by giving us your views.

We are consulting people about our ideas from 15 October to 9 December and everyone's views are welcome.

This is a complex issue, with many options, so the consultation document is big which is why we are encouraging people to view and respond online. However, if you cannot access the Internet we will be happy to issue a paper copy on request.

� You can read it, and respond, online at www.norfolk.gov.uk/SENStrategy or www.YourNorfolkYourSay.org

� You can request a paper copy by calling the SEN Strategy Team on 0344 800 8020 or emailing us at SENStrategy@norfolk.gov.uk

� You can come along at any time between 10 am and 7 pm to a drop-in event:

North	Tuesday 6 November	The Feathers Hotel6 Market Place, Holt NR25 6BW
West	Thursday 8 November	Swaffham Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Swaffham
South	Monday 12 November	Attleborough Community & Enterprise CentreChurch Street, Attleborough NR17 2AH
Central	Monday 19 November	UEA SportsparkNorwich NR4 7TJ
East	Thursday 22 November	The Priory CentrePriory Plain, Great Yarmouth NR30 1NW

Please contact Kim Mwanza or Michael Bateman on 0344 800 8020 or email senstrategy@norfolk.gov.uk if you have any queries or comments.

We welcome your views and opinions.