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Bristol’s New SEND Strategy: A Step Towards Inclusion with Young Voices Leading the Way

Cover of the Bristol SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2024-2028. The central text reads “Bristol SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2024-2028” in bold white letters on a blue background. Surrounding the text are illustrated scenes of diverse individuals, including a child using a wheelchair, people signing, a young person using a tablet, and a photographer. Logos of Bristol City Council, Bristol Parent Carer Forum, and NHS Bristol appear at the bottom, highlighting the collaboration behind the strategy. The design conveys inclusivity, accessibility, and engagement with the community.

Bristol City Council has launched its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion Strategy 2024-2028, marking a new chapter in the city’s approach to supporting Disabled children and young people. The strategy sets out a four-year plan aimed at creating a more inclusive, accessible, and responsive education system, shaped by those who rely on it the most—young Disabled people and their families.

A Strategy Built on Listening

One of the standout aspects of the new SEND strategy is its co-produced approach. Over the past year, the council engaged with more than 1,500 children and young people, 2,000 parent carers, and 750 school representatives, ensuring that their lived experiences shaped the priorities of the strategy.

A major contributor to this process was WECIL’s Listening Partnership, a group of Disabled young people aged 13-25 who work to embed their voices in decision-making. The Listening Partnership played a key role in developing the strategy, taking part in co-design and co-production sessions to ensure the final plan addressed the real challenges and aspirations of young people. The young people looked at how other places created their SEND visions, talked among themselves, and shared what they felt would best support Disabled young people in Bristol. Once these words were finalised they worked with an artist to create images that made the SEND Vision more personal and accessible, allowing their ideas to be expressed in a meaningful way. The group stressed the importance of making sure Disabled young people, continue to have a say in the process. They want their voices to remain at the heart of the strategy and future decisions.

Listening Partnership’s Impact: A Youth-Led Vision

At the Bristol SEND Conference, held to launch the strategy, the Listening Partnership made a powerful impression. Hosting the first workshop of the day, they shared their insights on what matters most to Disabled young people. Their session—delivered through a combination of in-person presentations and video contributions—was so well received that the Director of Education invited the group to take over his role for a day.

Their message was clear:

“We have the same hopes and aspirations as all young people in Bristol.”

“We experience many of the same struggles as others.”

“We want and have the right to the same opportunities in life.”

A video made by young people from the listening Partnership has been circulated across the council and schools, capturing the strength of their advocacy and the power of genuine youth-led change. It can be watched here.

Key Priorities of the SEND Strategy

The strategy focuses on six main priorities:

  1. Understanding needs – Improving the identification and assessment of SEND at an early stage.
  2. Listening to families – Ensuring Disabled young people and their families have a real say in decisions that affect them.
  3. Right help, right time – Reducing long waiting times for support and making services easier to access.
  4. Inclusive education – Strengthening mainstream schools’ ability to support SEND students and increasing local specialist provision.
  5. Preparing for the future – Helping young people transition successfully into adulthood, employment, and independent living.
  6. Feeling safe and included – Creating school and community environments where Disabled children and young people feel valued and supported.

Ongoing Challenges: Judicial Review and Financial Realities

While the launch of the SEND strategy is a positive step forward, challenges remain. A judicial review into the SEND Safety Valve Agreement—a controversial financial deal aimed at reducing the council’s deficit in SEND funding—is currently underway . Many parent carers and advocates fear that budget-driven decisions may lead to further exclusions from mainstream education and reductions in vital support services.

A Promising Step, but Work to Do

The success of the SEND strategy will depend on ongoing collaboration with young people, parents, schools, and professionals. The involvement of the Listening Partnership ensures that Disabled young people’s voices are embedded at every level, but the city will need to remain committed to delivering on these promises.

With young people leading the charge, Bristol’s SEND strategy represents a hopeful step towards a more inclusive future—one where every Disabled child and young person is supported to thrive, not just survive.

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