More than 100 parents, carers and professionals heard from partners and parents involved as well as the authority’s cabinet member for children’s services at the Brier School this afternoon.

The Dudley Area SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) strategy has been put together by Dudley Council, parents, children, partners – including schools and health organisations. The local authority’s cabinet approved the new strategy last year.

It looks to build on the good work already being done by the authority and its partners, and seeks to make improvements by focusing on three strategic priorities.

They are working more closely with families, taking a stronger approach to partnership working with other organisations and simplifying help and support to make it more accessible.

Councillor Qadar Zada, leader of Dudley Council, said:

Children and young people have asked us to listen to and treat them as individuals and with our new SEND strategy we doing just that.

Today we have officially launched our strategy and promise to put the young people who we represent at the heart of all we do, offering a front line practice that is driven by the needs of children and young people, to ensure we have the best quality education provision and outcomes for all our children and young people.”

Councillor Susan Ridney, cabinet member for children’s services, said:

Children and young people are at the heart of our decision making and it was an honour and privilege to speak with some of them at them at the event today.

We’ve spoken extensively to local parents, carers and children and young people throughout the process and though we have found things we are doing well there are areas in which we are working to improve.

This strategy has been produced through strong co-production with schools, it has been a really good joint process and will provide the framework in which those improvements can be made.”

People can view the strategy at http://www.dudley.gov.uk/sendstrategy