Parents and Carers
The Universal SEND Services (USS) programme is delivered by nasen through the Whole School SEND consortium and is one of a number of programmes that are funded by the Department for Education to improve the experiences of and outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
Whilst our offer is predominantly aimed at supporting the continuing professional development of educational professionals and enabling the cultural / leadership shift towards inclusive practice, we also recognise parents and carers as key stakeholders and a number of our resources - such as our Ask, Listen, Do leaflets - are aimed at helping to develop successful partnerships between families and education settings.
Ask, Listen, Do - Understanding SEN support
Questions to support young people with SEND and families in conversation with education settings.
Ask, Listen, Do - A guide to making conversations count for all families
A leaflet intended to help build a mutually respectful partnership between families and the school, college or other education settings.
Ask, Listen, Do - Returning to school after a period of absence
Questions to ask of schools to make the return to school from a period of absence as successful as possible.
Ask, Listen, Do - Transition Planning for Year 11
Provides families with questions to ask of schools and empower them in having successful planning discussions and securing next steps beyond Year 11.
Successful Returns Handbook
Relevant for families where a young person is returning after extended time off school.
Successful Returns Webinar
Relevant for families where a young person is returning after extended time off school - accompanies the handbook.
Securing Good Transitions
A resource pack to support the next steps of Key Stage 4 learners with SEND.
Securing Good Transitions
A webinar to accompany the resource pack - designed to support the next steps of Key Stage 4 learners with SEND.
Sharing our work with professionals
Many of the parents and carers we speak to tell us that they have shared details of the USS programme with the practitioners who teach their children. As quality-assured CPD that is free to access, they tell us that it is warmly received and helps to reinforce a partnership approach.
If you’re a parent or carer and would like to share information about our offer with your child’s teacher or setting, here are a few resources to help you introduce us and our work:
Universal SEND Services leaflet
Download and email or print this leaflet for anyone who might benefit from an overview of USS and the ways in which we can support practitioners’ CPD.
Teacher Handbook: SEND
Our most popular resource. Developed in 2021 for teachers to use over time as they embed inclusive practice in their classrooms. Relevant to primary, secondary and specialist colleagues: teaching assistants, teachers, senior leaders and headteachers. The handbook includes whole-school and whole-class approaches as well as subject-specific and condition-specific guidance.
Our events
Practitioners can book onto free-to-access CPD on a wide range of topics, hosted by our regional lead teams and a range of guest speakers from the world of education through the link.
Online learning
We offer two online learning options through our Ambitious About Inclusion modules, and our SEND CPD units. All are designed to support free, flexible CPD.
Condition-specific support
We have a suite of condition-specific videos, aimed at providing teachers with techniques and advice on inclusive strategies for learners with ADHD, Acquired Brain Injury, Autism, Down’s Syndrome, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Hearing Impairment, Physical Disability, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs and Visual Impairment.
Consortium Partners
Further resources, support and information on specific conditions can often be found through our consortium partners.
Six further DfE-funded programmes focus on different aspects of improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families.
In particular, you may be interested in learning more about:
- The Preparation, Information and Advice (PIA) programme
- The work of the Council for Disabled Children in their role as DfE’s Strategic Reform Partner