"Significant engagement" has gone into the development of Hertfordshire County Council's draft SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Strategy 2026-2029, councillors were told.

An update of the draft strategy was provided to Herts County Council's Health and Well-Being Board on Friday, January 16, and described how public opinion has shaped the proposed policy.

The document stated: "At the heart of the new draft SEND Strategy are the voices of young people, parent carers, staff, and schools. The council hosted the Hertfordshire SEND Summit in September 2025 to bring together parent carers, schools, the voluntary sector, staff, political leaders and representatives from education, health and social care services to listen to lived experiences, understand the challenges that remain and collaborate together on solutions for improving the SEND system for children and young people. Across the Summer 2025, over 1,000 voices were heard as part of the wide-ranging engagement activity."

The findings of the public consultation will be discussed by councillors at the next Education, SEND and Inclusion Cabinet Panel on Friday, January 30, where the strategy will enter its next phase.

Following users' feedback, the new strategy, for 2026-29, promises a "transformative shift" in how the authority engages with families, with an emphasis on "collaboration, communication and meaningful outcomes".

It vows to enhance the voices of young people in shaping services through its three youth councils, as well as to extend its SEND Academy, which saw 138 people recruited by the local authority last October, "to build expertise across frontline professionals".

Improving communication across council services so that it is "clearer and more compassionate" is also highlighted as an aim.

Elsewhere, early intervention is cited as a key consideration, with families even without a formal diagnosis accessing help, using webpages such as the Local Offer website and the Neurodiversity Hub.

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The draft document highlights several improvements made since the previous SEND strategy was adopted in 2022, including more timely assessments – 89% of new education, health and care plans (EHCPs) were issued on time in September compared to 38% in July 2023.