What we do - Have your say! - Other local and national surveys and consultations

See below for other local and national surveys, consultations, petitions, etc. you might like to take part in.

Consultation on Proposed Changes to Funding Mainstream Schools Receive to Support Pupils with SEND

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the £6,000 High Needs Threshold. The £6,000 threshold in the UK refers to the baseline cost that mainstream schools and educational institutions are legally expected to spend on SEND support for a pupil, before they can request additional "top-up" funding from their local authority.

The proposals in the consultation explore changing how SEND funding is distributed between mainstream schools and local authorities. The aim is to provide mainstream schools and academies with a greater share of SEND funding upfront, enabling support to be put in place earlier without relying as heavily on top-up funding from the high needs budget.

Local authorities would be able to choose whether to introduce this approach from 2027/28, ahead of wider national funding reforms planned for 2029/30.

You can access information about the DfE consultation [HERE]. You can share your views [HERE].

The consultation closes at 11:59pm on Friday 18th September 2026.

DfE Consultation: Education Otherwise Than at School (EOTAS)

The WPCC advised a few weeks ago that we were expecting to hear about a national consultation on EOTAS (Education Other Than At School). On 10th July 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) launched a new national consultation on EOTAS. EOTAS applies when a child or young person’s special educational provision, as set out in their EHCP, cannot be appropriately delivered in a school or college setting. For some children and young people with SEND, EOTAS is essential to ensuring they receive the right support in a way that meets their needs. It was highlighted by many families that consideration of this important provision was not included in the recent SEND Reform consultation.

The DfE is seeking views on how EOTAS should be identified, managed, and quality assured. These proposals could have a significant impact on some of the most vulnerable children and young people, so it is vital that families’ lived experiences help shape any future changes. Parent carers, young people, professionals and organisations are all encouraged to take part.

You can access the consultation [HERE].

The consultation will be open for 10 weeks, closing on Friday 18th September 2026.


UPDATE - 18/07/2026

As a reminder, EOTAS applies when a child or young person’s special educational provision, as set out in their EHCP, cannot be appropriately delivered in a school orcollege setting. For some children and young people with SEND, EOTAS is essential to ensuring they receive the right support in a way that meets their needs. It was highlighted by many families that consideration of this important provision was not included in the recent SEND Reform consultation.

The DfE is seeking views on how EOTAS should be identified, managed, and quality assured. These proposals could have a significant impact on some of the most vulnerable children and young people, so it is vital that families’ lived experiences help shape any future changes. Parent carers, young people, professionals and organisations are all encouraged to take part.

Since last week, the DfE has published a series of fact sheets to accompany the EOTAS and Upfront funding for mainstream schools consultations. These resources explain the proposals in more detail and are intended to help parents, carers and professionals understand the consultation before sharing their views:

• [SEND reform: education otherwise than at school – what parents and carers of children and young people need to know - GOV.UK]
• [Upfront funding for mainstream schools: creating a ‘local SEND inclusion formula’ – what parents and carers of children and young people need to know - GOV.UK]

Please also see attached the DfE's official slides and fact sheets for families (SEND Reform – EOTAS and upfront funding for mainstream schools).

You can access the consultation [HERE].

The consultation closes on Friday 18th September 2026.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Community Feedback Request

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is on a mission to make care and services the best they can be and are requesting your to help!

SWASFT's Community Feedback Forum offers everyone a chance to have a real say in shaping the future of emergency care. It's a friendly, open space where your ideas, feedback, and experiences can spark meaningful change.

There are virtual meetings taking place in September and December 2026.

Find out more [HERE].

Share Your Experiences of Living with a Long-Term Health Condition in Rural Wiltshire

Voice It, Hear It (VIHI) is carrying out independent engagement on behalf of the BSW Integrated Care Board (ICB) to better understand the experiences of people living with long-term health conditions in rural communities.

Living with a long-term health condition can affect many aspects of daily life, including:

• Accessing healthcare appointments
  
• Managing treatment and medication
  
• Staying independent
  
• Caring responsibilities
  
• Transport and travel
  
• Access to information and services
  
• Maintaining social connections and wellbeing
  

VIHI and the BSW ICB are seeking to build a clearer picture of what is working well, where people face challenges, and what changes could help improve future support and services.


Ways to Take Part:

Complete an anonymous [online survey].

Request a telephone conversation - A telephone consultation can be arranged at a time that suits you if you would prefer to speak with someone.

Request a paper questionnaire - Paper copies can be posted to individuals who would prefer not to complete the survey online.


To arrange a telephone conversation or request a paper questionnaire, please contact: voice@communityfirst.org.uk.

Participation is entirely voluntary. Responses can be anonymous, and individuals are welcome to share as much or as little information as they wish. By taking part, you will contribute to a better understanding of the experiences of people living with long-term health conditions across rural Wiltshire and help inform future priorities and services.

Government Consultation on Employment Rights for Unpaid Carers

The Government has launched a consultation looking at employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children. The consultation is asking for views on what support is needed to help people balance paid work with unpaid caring responsibilities.

We know all too well that for many parent carers, staying in work can be difficult. Caring responsibilities can mean needing time off at short notice, attending appointments and meetings, managing emergencies, or juggling work around their children’s changing support needs. Without enough understanding or flexibility, parent carers can find themselves reducing their hours or having to leave work altogether.

This consultation closes at midnight on Tuesday 1st September 2026 and is an important chance for parent carers’ experiences to be heard. Anyone can respond to this consultation, with views particularly welcomed from people with lived experience of caring responsibilities, businesses, those with experience in supporting unpaid carers in the workplace, and those with expertise in unpaid care.

You can read more and respond on the [GOV.UK website].

Call for Evidence: Modernising Carer’s Allowance

The government is asking families, carers, and organisations to share their experiences and ideas about how Carer’s Allowance could be improved for the future. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) wants to understand how the current rules work in real life, especially around earnings and the impact these rules have on carers who want or need to work. They are exploring options such as an earnings taper, which could make the system fairer and more flexible for carers whose income varies. Parent carers, disabled young people, professionals, and organisations with lived or learned experience are all invited to take part. You can share your views in whatever format works best for you; these could be written comments, existing data, or reports. The call for evidence is available in a wide range of accessible formats, including BSL, Easy Read, audio, Braille, large print, and Welsh.

This is an important opportunity to help shape how Carer’s Allowance could better support carers now and in the future. Find out more on the [GOV.UK website].

The call for evidence closes at 11:59pm on Tuesday 18th August 2026.

Opportunity for Children and Young People to Share their Experiences and Perceptions of CAMHs

Unloc is partnering with the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust to support the review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) across Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire.

Unloc is inviting young people aged 11 to 21 to share their honest experiences and perceptions of CAMHS. This feedback will directly influence how the service is structured moving forward. The survey is for all young people, whether or not they have accessed CAMHS.

To complete the survey, please click [HERE].

All submissions remain anonymous and confidential. If you have any questions, please email: kellie@unloc.org.uk.

Calling Young People Aged 13-18 to Take Part in Research

Researchers at Bath University are inviting young people aged 13-18 who may feel a bit low or not enjoying things as much as they used to, to take part in an online research study called Unlock Wellbeing.

The study is designed to give young people practical, evidence based ways to improve their mood and wellbeing.

Please click [HERE] to find out more and take the survey.

Do you Have Lived Experience of Care, Education and Treatment Reviews?

Participate in a Survey and get a £20 High Street Voucher

CETRs (Care, Education and Treatment Reviews) are meetings that make sure a person with a learning disability and/or autism is getting the right care, education, and support. They are used for people who are at risk of going into hospital, are already in hospital, or need their care reviewed, even if they are not in crisis.

The goal is to ensure they receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time, and to help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.

Project CECiLiA wants to find out what works best for Care, Education and Treatment Reviews (CETRs) for autistic people, people with learning disabilities, their family members and carers, and the professionals working with them. The project wants to understand if CETRs are helpful for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, and if they result in positive changes. If they do result in positive changes, they then want to find out if there are some ways they are carried out that work better than others.

Project CECiLiA wants to hear from anyone involved in a CETR over the last 12 months, including:

People with learning disabilities and autistic people, including

• children aged 5 and older
  
• Families and carers
  
• Care (Education) and Treatment Review panel members
  
• Health, education, and social care professionals
  

To participate, people can complete a survey themselves or help can be offered to anyone who would like this. This could involve someone from Project CECiLiA talking through the survey over the phone or in person; they will do their best to do whatever people would find helpful.

They are looking for people to tell them about their experience of CETRs until the end of August 2026.

You can find out more and complete an expression of interest form on the study website at https://cecilia.org.uk/take-a-survey. The survey should take no more than 30 minutes and you can receive a £20 gift voucher as thanks for taking part.

Also see the attached newsletter for more information.

Talking to our Mobile Communities about Neighbourhood Health

BSW Integrated Care Board is about to start an exciting project to hear views on bringing more care closer to communities. The BSW team have been out and about recently chatting to boaters on the Kennet and Avon Canal and gathered lots of useful information and ideas.

They especially want to hear from Gypsy, Romany, Boater, Traveller (GRBT) Communities and Veterans in BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire.

If you are a member of one of these communities or work with them and would like to get involved, please get in touch by email: bswicb.engagement@nhs.net

How do You Think Transitions Between Children and Adult Services in Wiltshire Could be Improved?

A partnership with Wiltshire Council and local NHS Partners are looking at how they can work to improve transitions between children and adult’s services.

They would hugely value your thoughts and opinions to help to shape pilot projects in this area.

Please click on the link below to complete a short survey. If you have any further thoughts or information you would like to share please contact:- lucy.moses@wiltshire.gov.uk.

[SURVEY]

What are Your Experiences of the Wiltshire SENDIASS Service?

Wiltshire Council is inviting anyone who has had direct experience of the Wiltshire SENDIASS service (delivered by Family Action). Feedback submitted to Wiltshire Council through this survey will help to inform future intentions for the delivery of an information advice and support service in Wiltshire.

There are two services in Wiltshire with similar names, but with different responsibilities. Please carefully read the descriptions below, to ensure you feedback about intended service.

SENDIASS provides free, impartial information, advice, and support concerning Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

SENDIS:- This service, operated by the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council (WPCC), is not the focus of this survey. WPCC’s SENDIS offers a signposting service to training and support available for parents of children with SEND needs.

Wiltshire Council’s survey is specifically requesting feedback on the SENDIASS service operated by Family Action.

Please only complete this survey if you have had a direct experience with the SENDIASS service (Family Action).

Click [HERE] to complete the survey.

Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living Pioneers – helping young people with SEND have their voice

The Wilts CIL Coproduction Team works alongside children and young people with SEND aged 5 to 25 years, enabling them to share their views and work towards future goals as Wiltshire’s Young Pioneers. Young people joining the Pioneers do not need to have a formal diagnosis or an EHCP.

Young Pioneers come together for sessions, and there are opportunities to engage with the WILTS CIL Coproduction Team online, over the phone, in person or with a visit to your school/educational setting; please contact them to find out more.

Email: getinvolved@wiltshirecil.org.uk

Call: 0300 1233442