Participation is about more than simply taking part or being consulted, it is about being fully included and actively involved in all planning and decision-making, in a way that is accessible and meaningful. Working together in partnership with parents/carers and children benefits everyone and helps to ensure that intervention and support meets individual needs and is appropriate for individual circumstances.
Co-production refers to the process through which parents/carers and children share an equal role and responsibility in planning, shaping and reviewing support on an ongoing basis. Co-production can exist at different levels: for example, co-producing a whole school or setting behaviour policy together with parents/carers and children or jointly agreeing outcomes and recommendations during person-centred planning meetings.
At the heart of meaningful participation and co-production is mutual respect, trust, honesty, transparency and open communication.
SENCOs and leadership teams encourage participation and co-production with their wider school or setting community in different ways, such as:
- Regularly and authentically gathering the views of children and parents/carers to inform development work and practice across the setting (e.g. through questionnaires, parent/carer groups, activities or coffee mornings).
- Embedding person-centred planning across the setting.
- Running projects or activities to encourage parent/carer and children’s participation (e.g. charity events or wellbeing events).
- Holding drop-ins for parents/carers and children with SEND.
‘When we review policies and procedures across school we send out parental feedback forms or ask for a group of volunteers for a working party. The information gained and shared ensures that we are working together to benefit our pupils and families. It ensures that we all have the vision and values of the school at the heart of our decision making and parents and carers to not feel done to. We share the feedback gained from parental feedback forms and put together a 'you said, we did/do' document.’ – Bury head teacher.