SENCOM service in Newport
Posted on Thursday 22nd November 2018
Newport City Council has given serious and appropriate consideration to the wellbeing of our pupils when proposing a new locally focussed specialist service to support those with hearing impairments, visual impairments and communication needs.
Although we fully appreciate the general benefits of partnership working, in this case we are confident that we can provide a tailor-made service for Newport, providing the same level of service currently received in a more cost-effective manner.
The young people and their families will not experience any break or reduction in the support they receive and Newport schools will also benefit from more local support.
In considering this move and preparing this proposal, we believe we have exhausted all possible options for change within the current model, and have also liaised with specialists including the National Deaf Association and consultants in the field of audiology about the implementation of a new service.
We have endeavoured to keep parents and carers informed of the changes and have ensured they have clear routes through which to raise any questions or concerns. These include a dedicated email and parent sessions.
Approximately 380 pupils in Newport receive some level of support via this service and so far, very few queries from parents and carers have been received.
Our priority is to ensure that all pupils receive the support they need and we are confident that the right specialist skills, equipment and resources will be in place to deliver a smooth transition to the new service.