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 young people benefits everyone and helps to ensure that support meets individual needs and is appropriate for individual circumstances.
Co-production refers to the process through which parents/carers and young people 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 setting behaviour policy together with parents/carers and young people or jointly agreeing on 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.
LSMs and senior leadership teams encourage participation and co-production with their wider college community in different ways, such as:
- Regularly and authentically gathering the views of young people and parents/carers to inform development work and practice across the college (e.g. through questionnaires, parent/carer groups, activities or coffee mornings).
- Embedding person-centred planning across the college setting.
- Identifying and supporting young people ambassadors, representatives and pupil/student councils.
- Running projects or activities to encourage parent/carer and young people participation (e.g. charity events or wellbeing events).
- Holding drop-ins for parents/carers and young people with SEND.
See Person Centred Planning for further information around person-centred planning, and a person-centred planning toolkit. This also includes feedback received from Bury SENCOs/LSMs and teachers following their use of these materials.