Site menu

CYP Voice - How best to support us

Listening to CYP and ensuring their voice is represented in their plans and provision is vital to ensure that they are at the heart of any decisions made or support put in place. 

"Children have a right: to receive and impart information, to express an opinion and to have that opinion taken into account in any matters affecting them from the early years " 
(Paragraph 1.6) SEND Code of Practice 2015

Expectations for all settings

CYP are fully involved in the assessment and review processes

What this may include/ look like

  • CYP are fully involved in the graduated approach (Assess, Plan, Do, Review) and contribute to setting and reviewing their outcomes and identifying the support that works best for them.
  • Adults consider how best to gather authentic CYP voice (Norfolk County Council - Training |The Lundy Model of Participation).
  • CYP are supported to understand their own barriers to learning and to value their achievements (e.g. through the use of individual support plans such as:

Norfolk SEND Youth Forum have created some guidance on how CYP with SEND want to be supported.

How we want to be supported

  • Norfolk SEND Youth Forum are a group of children and young people from 11-25 years old with Special Educational Needs (SEND) and Disabilities
  • We are unique and we all need different things. We all need help sometimes, but we do not always feel able to ask for it.
  • You can help by asking us how we want to be supported and what we need to help us.

These are our 'Top tips' fir adults who support us:

  • Don't judge us before you get to know us. Talk to us and listen to what we have to say.
  • Make sure that we understand what kind of help and support is available to us.
  • Understand that we might find it difficult to ask for help. Check in to make sure that we have understood and to help us focus.
  • Make sure there is a named, trusted adult that we can talk to.
  • Give us extra time to think, to understand and to answer questions. It takes the pressure off!
  • Use short clear instructions broken down into small steps.
  • Remind us about what we need to do if we forget.
  • Support us to use things that might help us, like a fidget toy or a laptop to help with writing.
  • Give us time and space to calm down if we are feeling annoyed or frustrated.

Norfolk County Council Participation Team worked with settings to consult with CYP with SEND to find out what helps to supports them to feel included and comfortable in school. This is what the CYP said:

We learn best when our setting...      

  • Helps us with friendships and makes sure we have time with our friends
  • Provides separate spaces for younger and older children so we can all feel safe
  • Has time-out areas or calm zones where we can reset or share our worries
  • Offers different clubs for us to take part in
  • Makes sure we have learning outside the classroom like school trips
  • Has tidy and calm classrooms
  • Makes lessons fun with games
  • Gives us a space for our voice to be heard on how the school works
  • Gives us a choice to stay in or go outside at break and lunch and makes sure there are adults around
  • Takes time to get to know us and the support we need to learn

A dream staff member....

  • Sees me as an individual
  • Is kind and respectful and has a nice tone when talking to me
  • Notices when I'm having a bad day and lets me reset myself
  • Asks for my views, listens to them and acts on them
  • Puts my adjustments in place so I can do well
  • Helps me find out what I am good at so I believe in myself
  • Asks me if I am okay rather than telling me off if I misbehave or make a mistake
  • Is supportive, calm and gives me space when I need it
  • Is friendly and available for me so I can ask for help

Links to helpful resources:

For more information on pupil participation, please click on this link: Pupil participation - Norfolk Schools and Learning Providers - Norfolk County Council

For an e-learning course on empowering CYP with SEND to participate please follow this link: Empowering children and young people with SEND to participate [External - NCCv1]

Share this page