Young people share their experiences to help improve SEND services

This year’s event took place at Aylesbury Rugby Club in Weston Turville. It was open to young people from secondary schools and education settings across the county, as well as those who are home educated. The event was free and arranged in partnership with the young people. Participants took part in workshops, listened to speakers and talked to specialists. There were also stands to visit that included the Buckinghamshire New University and SENDIAS (Special Educational Needs and Disability Information and Advice Service).

The event, now in its third year, brings together young people with special needs and disabilities who live in Buckinghamshire, with staff from the council’s Youth Participation Team, Integrated SEND Service and other partners. The aim is to ensure young people are given the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences, to ensure that their needs continue to be met and the SEN Improvement Programme develops in partnership with those directly using services.

The focus of this year’s event was on inclusion with the young people from Year 7-9 who are receiving SEN support, invited to discuss what inclusion means for them in their school life and in their community and what could be done to improve their experiences. Alongside the young people's workshops there were sessions for the accompanying adults that shared information on the Local Offer and Ordinary Available Provision, that were run by the new SEND Inclusion Advisors and an Information & Outreach Officer.

Speaking after the event, Anita Cranmer, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education said: “It has been wonderful to once again hear from so many of our young people and to find out first hand about their experiences. Their feedback is vital to help us make ongoing improvements. It helps us to develop our services, policies and strategies so that our young people can reach their full potential and access and participate in all walks of life.”

Buckinghamshire Council’s SEND Improvement Strategy sets out how the council and partners will work together with young people with SEND and their families to bring about improvement and change to services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.