In May 2022 Alice Hoyle and Emma Bolt founded RepreSENt aiming to campaign for additional specialist provision in the Bath and North East Somerset area and adjoining counties. Within a month we had over 100 parents in a whatsapp group who were all parents of children with additional needs, desperate for better SEND provision locally. 

In the time since RepreSENt was founded we have achieved the following:

• Established a website and brand.
• Built a membership of 240+ parents that offers daily support and signposting. 
• Surveyed local parents and families as to what the local needs are.
• Met with Local Authority Partners to establish relationships and share our aims. 
• Work closely with the  Banes Parent Carer Forum steering group (Emma is now a Director and Alice is a parent rep)
• Offered daily support via an active whatsapp group.
• Written to every local independent school and many of the local mainstream schools about their SEND provision.
• Met with several independent specialist education providers.
• Decided to partner with The Levels School to bring a sister school to bath Avonhurst School as we felt their provision and ethos matched our aims and values. 
• Extensively searched for suitable premises across the local area (including Bath &NES, Bristol, South Glos and Wiltshire)
• Negotiated on an initial premises (ultimately sadly unsucessfully)​
• Currently negotiating on a very promising premises near Bath (details to follow when confirmed).​

What next?

• Continue to build relationships and develop partnerships across the local authority and neighbouring local authorities. 
• Continue to support the parents in our whatsapp group.
• Continue to advocate for improved send provision in all local schools. 
• Build relationships with local schools about a new school offer to work in partnership
• Offer SEND mentoring coaching and advocacy where appropriate. 

If you would like to find out more please email [email protected], or join our Facebook or Whatsapp groups.