Children's services
Council continues to support Walsall’s disabled children and young people
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A Walsall Council committee discussed how the local authority continues to meet the needs of children and young people in the borough who are disabled at a meeting this week.
The Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on Monday 11 March 2024 included a report which outlines the council’s approach to supporting disabled children in Walsall, to ensure inequalities are reduced and children’s potential is maximised.
Walsall’s Right for Children Accessibility and Inclusion Strategy sets out the council’s vision to increase access to education for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities, so that they can benefit from educational provision to the same extent that children without special educational needs and/or disabilities can.
The report outlines the council’s safeguarding approach to disabled children, and the many factors which can make a disabled child more vulnerable to abuse than a non-disabled child of the same age.
The council delivers a borough-wide service for disabled children to support their best interests in all aspects of their life, including education and health and social care.
In line with national figures, Walsall has seen an increase in the number of children with complex needs, and the council is working closely with partners such as education and health organisations, to ensure the appropriate support is offered to children and young people.
The report identifies three key areas of work the service will continue to develop over the next 12 months. This includes a review of the short care breaks offer for children and their families, the introduction of a designated safeguarding coordinator to strengthen links between social care and special educational needs services, and plans to better prepare for children who will transition into adult social care.
“ Children with a disability are children first and foremost, and have a right to live full and happy childhoods.
The Disabled Childrens and Young People’s team at Walsall Council are delivering a vital service to some of our most vulnerable children and their families, to ensure they have the right provisions and support in place to help them live safely, happily, and healthily.
Thank you to the team of dedicated professionals who are supporting this cohort of children live a life they deserve. “
You can watch the scrutiny committee discuss the paper and watch the meeting via the Walsall Council committee management system: https://cmispublic.walsall.gov.uk/cmis/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/3863/Committee/503/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx
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Notes to editors
The Children’s Act 1989 defines disability as “[if a child] is blind, deaf or dumb or suffers from mental disorder of any kind or is substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity or such other disability as may be prescribed.”
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Local Offer
Every local authority provides a localised offer of support to children, young people and their families who have special education needs and/or disabilities.
More information about Walsall’s SEND Local Offer can be found on the Local Offer website: https://send.walsall.gov.uk/
The website provides information about the range of services Walsall Council provides to support all areas of children’s lives, to give them the best start in life.
Parents and carers can find out about help with learning, money and financial support, and information about preparing for independence and adulthood.
There is also information about local things to do and get involved with, and an opportunity to feedback about the SEND services provided by the council.
