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Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, perspectives, and ideas with us to help shape the SEND Summit.

We really value the unique insights and lived experiences you contributed. Your input -  building on our previous learning - will play a crucial role in two key areas: shaping both the SEND Summit itself and the future direction of our SEND strategy. Your voices are at the heart of this work, and we are grateful for your engagement and partnership. 

What feedback did we collect before the Summit?

We wanted understand the experiences of families, including what is working well, what could be better, and what should be the priorities for our next SEND Strategy. 

  • We ran surveys for parent carers, children and young people and professionals in Hertfordshire. We had over 900 responses.
  • County Councillors heard the views of parent carers and young people at 6 SEND listening events across the county and online.
  • The Local Offer team attended family events in Hertfordshire and fed in the listening they did with families. 
  • Between the listening events and the views gathered by the Local Offer team, over 200 families were heard.

What’s working well in accessing support?

We asked families what has helped them, they told us:

  • Supportive schools and settings, when children are accessing the right learning environment they are doing really well
  • Proactive SENCOs and Education, Health and Care Coordinators, positively impacting families experiences of the EHCP process
  • Accessing charities and community support, such as ADD-vance, Space, SENDIASS and others has been important in many families journeys
  • Information shared on the Local Offer is helpful for many families
  • Inclusive activities and holiday schemes that provide respite for parent carers are well received, and would like to see more of them
  • Listening activities such as the ones held over the summer help families to feel heard.

“Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their personal experiences with us through the listening process. We know that some of you have had tough journeys to get the support they need, and we will reflect upon your experiences during the SEND summit. We will also be drawing on what you’ve told us is working well, as we work together to plan the future SEND services in Hertfordshire.”

- Councillor Mark Watkin

The SEND Summit

What were the key themes discussed at the SEND Summit?

The findings from the listening activities reinforced our understanding of the challenges in the system. We used the feedback to inform the key themes which were discussed at the SEND Summit:

  1. Accessing the right learning environment
  2. Ensuring timely and effective EHCP delivery
  3. Enhancing communication and collaboration
  4. Building workforce capacity in education, health and care services
  5. Improving equitable access to health services across the county
  6. Strengthening transitions and post-16 support

A visual illustration completed live on the day by artist Julia Bakay, to summarise the themes and intention of the event:

SEND Summit 2025 Visual Notes

The event was attended by councillors, representatives from health education and social care, parent carer representatives and Experts by Exerience.

Thank you to all those who attended, and those of you who joined us online.

Watch recordings of the Summit  

You can now watch recordings of the morning speeches  - including Dame Christine Lenehan's keynote speech, the Q and A session, and Leader of the Council, Steve Jarvis', closing words.

Keynote speech

Watch Dame Christine Lenehan, DfE Strategic Advisor and Hertfordshire's Independent Chair, deliver the keynote speech at the SEND summit.

Hero Slinn, Director of Inclusion and Skills, opens the Summit with a welcome address.

Councillor Mark Watkin addresses delegates at the SEND Summit.

Angie Ridgwell, CEO of Hertfordshire County Council, addresses delegates at the SEND Summit. 

Members of the panel answer questions from the public in the Q and A session.
**Apologies - unfortunately the sound quality is poor in parts of this recording. We have tried to add captions where possible, but there are sections that are missing.

Closing remarks from Leader of the Council, Steve Jarvis.

What happens after the event?

The collaboration and insightful discussion from the workshops during the afternoon of the Summit is being written up, and everything will be used to inform a strong, ambitious and reflective new SEND Strategy for 2026 - 31. We'll make sure to share future updates with you on the Local Offer.

Need more information?

Please do email us SENDstrategy@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

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