You Said, We Shared
Local Area Partnership Responses and Updates
This page shares themes, experiences and feedback raised by parent carers with OxPCF, alongside responses, updates and ongoing work from the Local Area Partnership (LAP).
Families often tell us it can feel unclear what happens after feedback is shared or how concerns are being discussed across services. This page aims to provide a more open and transparent way of sharing some of those conversations, developments and updates.
OxPCF’s role is to listen to and represent parent carer voices and lived experiences. While not every issue can be resolved quickly, we hope this space helps families better understand what is being raised, what is happening and where work is still ongoing.
“I find the Local Offer difficult to navigate. The last time I used it, I didn’t find all the information I needed.”
OxPCF shared:Parent carers continue to tell us that the Local Offer can feel difficult to navigate and sometimes unclear about what support is available or where to find information. Families have also highlighted inconsistencies between some website content, leaflets and pathways. OxPCF has been feeding this back as part of ongoing Local Offer development work and wider discussions around accessibility, clarity, consistency and parent carer experience.
We did (Local Area Partnership):
We know families can still find the SEND Local Offer difficult to navigate at times, and we recognise there is still more work to do. Improving the accessibility, clarity and usefulness of the Local Offer is an ongoing piece of work, and the website continues to be regularly reviewed, updated and expanded in partnership with Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum (OxPCF), services and professionals.
Recent improvements include:
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Removing broken, duplicate and outdated pages to reduce confusion and improve reliability
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Improving page names, tiles and links to help make information easier to find and support clearer journeys across the site
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Increasing and improving health and social care information, including clearer pathways, updated links and more consistent signposting to support across age ranges
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Updating and renaming the SEND Glossary to a Terminology Guide to help explain commonly used SEND terms and language more clearly
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Improving signposting to the Terminology Guide from across the Local Offer
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Beginning work on wider structural changes to improve how information is organised and presented, making the Local Offer more intuitive to navigate
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Developing a communication toolkit to help professionals and partners consistently signpost families to the Local Offer and improve awareness of the information available. Feedback from OxPCF has highlighted that some leaflets and resources currently reference information or sections that are still being developed or updated on the website, and this is helping to shape ongoing improvements
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Working alongside OxPCF to gather parent carer feedback and views, including through polls, discussions and review work, to help shape ongoing improvements and priorities
We know the Local Offer is not perfect yet, and feedback from families continues to directly inform ongoing development and changes. We would particularly welcome specific feedback about pages, links or information families have found difficult to access or navigate so this can continue to improve over time. To share feedback, families can email feedback@oxpcf.org.uk.
OxPCF will also be hosting a Local Offer focus group later this year to gather wider parent carer views and experiences to help inform ongoing improvements. If families would be interested in being part of this, they can email info@oxpcf.org.uk or look out for future posts and updates from OxPCF.
"I've heard about enhanced pathways in some schools but I'm not sure what they are. Are they similar to resource bases? Can I apply for a place for my child in an enhanced pathway specifically?"
OxPCF shared:
Parent carers have told us there is still confusion around what Enhanced Pathways are, how they differ from resource bases or specialist provision, and how children and young people access support within them. Families have also shared uncertainty about whether an Enhanced Pathway can be specifically requested as part of school preference discussions or EHCP processes.
Parent carers continue to tell us that clearer information about the different types of SEND provision available across Oxfordshire, including what Enhanced Pathways can and cannot offer, would be helpful. Families have also highlighted that, while Enhanced Pathways may work well for some children and young people, they will not be the right provision for everyone.
You Asked - What is an Enhanced Pathway?
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The Enhanced Pathways programme was first introduced in 2020 to support children and young people with SEND in their local mainstream school. As of September 2025, there are 40 Enhanced Pathways available in Oxfordshire schools; a further 20 will be added in September 2026.
Each Enhanced Pathway is different, but the overall offer is personalised tailored support provision within a mainstream school.
Children and young people attending an Enhanced Pathway may benefit from:
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Smaller group teaching
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Teacher-led specialist support
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Help with communication, sensory, social and emotional needs
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Adapted learning approaches
The aim is to provide the right support at the right time before difficulties escalate, helping children and young people feel safe, included and understood while remaining in their local school wherever possible.
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A more inclusive school experience
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No two Enhanced Pathways are exactly the same. Each pathway is developed by the host school based on the needs of its pupils, the experience of its staff and the plans it submits when applying for funding to establish the provision.
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Enhanced Pathways are designed to reduce the need for children or young people to travel long distances to school, but rather find the support they need locally.
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Schools involved in the programme work closely with families to understand each child’s strengths, needs and goals. Parents or carers cannot apply for a place in an Enhanced Pathway for their child or young person, rather the Pathways are developed by each school as a response to their children and young people’s needs.
Parents whose children accessed an Enhanced Pathway during the pilot stage reported increased confidence in mainstream education following their experience.
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Drawing on additional funding, schools have been able to support children with a hybrid model of mainstream and specialist resources. One parent described the provision as “heaven” for her child, who was pre-verbal before the pathway was set up, but was now beginning to express themself with spoken language and recently said “mummy” for the first time.
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Another child joined an Enhanced Pathway in Year 1 unable to read, write or communicate verbally. By the end of the year, they had passed their phonics screening check, performed in the school talent show and were confidently communicating with familiar adults and peers.
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The aim of Enhanced Pathways is to create a wider range of support across the county, so that children, young people and families can access the type of provision that best meets their individual needs at the right time.
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However, for some children and young people, a specialist setting will continue to be the right and most appropriate provision to meet their needs. Oxfordshire County Council continues to invest in and expand specialist school places alongside the Enhanced Pathways programme.
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Oxfordshire County Council hopes the continued expansion of Enhanced Pathways will mean more children and young people with SEND can thrive in their local community, feel included in school life and achieve positive outcomes for the future. Find out more about the SEND provision at your child or young person’s school on the school website.
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Read more about Enhanced Pathways in Oxfordshire:
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‘The inclusive school blazing a path on SEND reform’, BBC Oxford 26 February 2026
‘Enhanced pathways way forward for SEND services’, BBC Oxford 20 March 2025
‘How we’re helping pupils with Send stay in mainstream school’, Local Government Chronicle 19 March 2025
"Some of the pages on the CAMHS website are hard to find from the homepage. The links don't always lead me to the pages I'm expecting, and I can't find information about how referrals work."
OxPCF shared:
Parent carers have told us that some areas of the CAMHS website can be difficult to navigate, with information and support pages not always easy to find from the homepage. Families have also shared that links do not always lead to the information they expect and that clearer information about how referrals work would be helpful.
In response to this feedback, OxPCF is working alongside CAMHS to support a review of the website and parent carer experience. We are jointly hosting an interactive parent carer focus group in June to gather feedback on accessibility, navigation, content and areas for improvement, with a follow-up session planned later in the year to review changes and ongoing development.
Families shared concerns about delays, uncertainty around EOTAS personal budgets and funding arrangements, and confusion about the Complex Cases Panel (CCP) process.
OxPCF shared:
OxPCF fed back concerns around communication, transparency and consistency within EOTAS and personal budget processes, including the impact uncertainty and delays can have on families. Parent carers told us they were not always clear where cases sat within the process, who was responsible for actions or when updates would be provided. We also shared that families would welcome clearer information about how the complex case panel works, including expected timescales, decision-making processes and communication arrangements.
OCC have confirmed that CCP continues to meet fortnightly and that there is not currently a backlog of cases waiting at panel level. They have advised that recent changes relate to improvements made to internal systems which are intended to streamline processes and have not affected the frequency of meetings or decision making.
OCC have acknowledged concerns around communication, clarity and delays experienced by some families and have confirmed that a review of current EOTAS packages and funding arrangements for 2026–27 is being undertaken to ensure there is clarity around current provision and funding agreements.
Families are also encouraged to use the SEND communication and escalation process where concerns are not being resolved or responses are delayed:
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OxPCF, SENDIASS and Experts by Experience are also currently working alongside OCC to develop parent carer guidance around EOTAS, communication pathways and escalation processes. It is hoped this guidance will help families better understand processes, expectations and routes for raising concerns, and will be available in the near future.