Improving Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services for children, young people and families across Derbyshire
News update - July 2026
Working together to improve services for children and families
Preparations are underway for the forthcoming SEND monitoring inspection with a strong focus on demonstrating the progress made against the Priority Impact Plan. We’re gathering and reviewing evidence to demonstrate the changes being made across the local area partnership to improve experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families. This includes looking carefully at what has changed, what difference it is making, and what still needs to improve.
The partnership is bringing together evidence from services, schools, health partners and families so there is a clear picture of progress. A key part of this work is listening to children, young people and parents, and using their feedback to help shape services and decisions. Schools and education partners are also involving young people in areas such as SEND co-ordinator development events, transition planning and inclusion work, so services are shaped with young people, not just for them.
The expected monitoring visit is an opportunity to show the progress made so far, while being open about the areas where more work is still needed.
Our shared aim remains clear: to improve experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND across Derbyshire.
Young musicians tune up to take centre stage at concert
Thousands of young musicians from across Derby and Derbyshire took centre stage for the performance of a lifetime. Around 3,500 pupils from primary and junior schools joined a professional orchestra for concerts taking place at Buxton Octagon and Derby Arena. Called 'Count Me In with the Orchestra', the concerts were organised by the Derbyshire Music Education Hub, a collaboration of local and regional musical organisations.
The Hub is led by the Derby and Derbyshire Music Partnership - Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council’s music service which aims to provide quality music-making opportunities to students.
The youngsters from years 3 to 6 were taking part in a programme of learning in the classroom and put their skills to the test alongside some of the finest musicians in the UK. The children learnt specially arranged pieces at school to perform alongside the pros on stage. Designed to be accessible to all, the music was written and adapted to match each pupil’s ability. Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities performed scores that were specifically adapted to achieve their full potential on their instrument.
The music was prepared by Carrot Productions who are specialists in high-impact performances for young people.
For more information about the Derbyshire Music Hub, please visit: Derbyshire Music Hub.
Join our free workshops
A series of free webinars designed to be useful for professionals, parents and carers who are working and living with our Neurodiverse (ND) community are coming back in 2026 - 2027. They will be held at 3:45 to 4:45pm on the dates shown on the Derbyshire Local Offer - ISS Webinars page. There is no need to book the sessions, just join using each event's live link. Links are published close to the time of the event.
There is also a downloadable poster with QR codes found in the 'Related Documents' section of the same page.
A free ND offer for all education settings in Derbyshire is shared on the Derbyshire Local Offer - Neurodiversity (ND) Offer 2026 to 2027 page to enable parents and professionals to understand what is available to build understanding and support to enable access and inclusion for our Neurodivergent communities.
Check if you can get free school meals under new rules
Families are being urged to check if they can get free school meals ahead of changes being introduced from September. From the start of the 2026 academic year all children whose families receive Universal Credit will be entitled to receive a free meal regardless of household income. Under current rules, only families who are entitled to Universal Credit and receive £7,400 or less per year from employment qualify for a free lunch for their children.
As part of the changes affecting primary, junior and secondary school students, there will be 2 categories of benefit-based free school meals:
- Targeted FSM - continues to be based on the existing threshold, offering free school meals to pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
- Expanded FSM - a new category offering free school meals to pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit
All pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 will continue to get free meals under the universal free school meals policy.
To check eligibility and apply, please visit: Derbyshire County Council - Free School Meals.
Transitional protection for free school meals, which has been in effect since 1 April 2018, will end on 31 July 2026.
The expanded free school meals will ensure all children whose household receives Universal Credit, even where their employment income exceeds £7,400 per year, will be able to continue receiving the free meals. All families previously eligible will be rechecked and notified directly by the school if they are no longer eligible for the meals.
Parents urged to apply for 30 hours of funded childcare
Working parents with children aged 9 months to 4 years old could be eligible for funded childcare. Don’t miss out - the application deadline for the autumn term is Monday 31 August.
To find out more, check if you're eligible and apply, please visit: Best Start in Life - 30 hours childcare for eligible working families in England
Parents who already have a childcare code must reconfirm their eligibility around every three months. It’s easy and only takes a few minutes - just sign in to your childcare account via GOV.UK.
Meanwhile, Derbyshire County Council is also carrying out a survey to assess the current childcare market. Parents or carers of children aged up to 18 with special educational needs and disabilities are encouraged to take part by sharing their current and future childcare needs. It will help the council to plan better support and improve how services and information are provided.
Eligible families can now access up to 30 hours of funded childcare from the term after their child turns nine months old until they reach school age. Before and after school provision is also expanding, with more wraparound childcare places becoming available for primary school-aged children. These changes mean the local childcare market has changed and we want to find out how it’s affected you and how we can help.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey before Friday 28 August by visiting:
Derbyshire County Council - Families Information Service Parental Childcare Survey 2026