York’s new hub for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities gets new name

SEND CENTRAL has been chosen as the name for York’s new city hub for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Local children and young people with SEND were asked to take part in a competition to come up with a title for the new hub at Clifton Family Hub earlier this year.

The name was put forward by local young person, Kaden [pictured], and was chosen because it highlights how the hub will be the central point for all information, advice and support relating to SEND in York.

Kaden explained: “I chose SEND CENTRAL because it was a centre to everything SEND and also it sounded good because of the similar sounds of the two words ‘SEND & CEN’. Dad liked The SEND Den, but I thought SEND CENTRAL sounded better."

The hub, which will open to the public in the autumn, will be the flagship Family Hub for young people with SEND aged 0-25 years and their families.

Everyone will be welcome to pop in to access information, advice, be signposted to additional support, or find out more about the Local Offer, whether or not their child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (ECHP).

The new hub will support the council’s SEND provision, working alongside local health partners.

Cllr Bob Webb, the council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “Supporting all children, young people and their families is a priority for us and the new SEND Hub is so important for York. I’m delighted that it’s new name – SEND CENTRAL – reflects just how central it will be to young people with SEND and their families, providing a single location for information and advice, whatever the query.”

As part of his prize for choosing the winning name for the hub, Kaden will formally open the building at its official launch in September.