SEND and Inclusion Strategy consultation

We asked for your views on a draft SEND and inclusion strategy for 2025 through to 2030. The revised strategy was drafted by the Buckinghamshire SEND Partnership, which includes children and young people with SEND, their families/carers, and those in education, health and care (including the voluntary and community sector). 

The six-week consultation took place between 21 October and 1 December 2024. 

89 responses were received to the survey on Your Voice Bucks. 42% of these were from family members of a child with SEND, 49% from professionals across education, health and social care, and 5% from the voluntary and community sector. 

Young people submitted feedback separately via workshops in person. A total of 41 children and young people were able to submit their views and opinions via this avenue.  

The views expressed through the online survey were as follows. Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number, so may not total 100%. 

Aspirations for SEND and inclusion 

To what extent do you agree or disagree that our aspirations for SEND and inclusion in Buckinghamshire will enable us to better support our children and young people with SEND to meet the challenges they face? 

• 53% agreed or strongly agreed 

• 17% neither agreed nor disagreed 

• 11% disagreed 

• 16% strongly disagreed 

• 3% didn’t know 

Priority 1 – early support 

To what extent do you agree or disagree with our approach to achieving our priority of providing early support for children and young people with SEND where needed? 

• 65% agreed or strongly agreed 

• 13% neither agreed nor disagreed 

• 14% disagreed 

• 6% strongly disagreed 

• 1% didn’t know 

Priority 2 – education provision 

To what extent do you agree or disagree with our approach to achieving our priority of providing suitable education provision for children and young people with SEND? 

• 58% agreed or strongly agreed 

• 19% neither agreed nor disagreed 

• 12% disagreed 

• 7% strongly disagreed 

• 3% didn’t know 

Priority 3 – high support needs 

To what extent do you agree or disagree with our approach to achieving our priority of providing effective support for children and young people with high SEND support needs? 

• 61% agreed or strongly agreed 

• 18% neither agreed nor disagreed 

• 6% disagreed 

• 10% strongly disagreed 

• 4% didn’t know 

Priority 4 – preparation for adulthood 

To what extent do you agree or disagree with our approach to achieving our priority of providing preparation for adulthood for children and young people with SEND? 

• 63% agreed or strongly agreed 

• 17% neither agreed nor disagreed 

• 9% disagreed 

• 4% strongly disagreed 

• 4% didn’t know 

View the detailed consultation outcome report. 

The responses to the consultation were considered by the SEND and Inclusion Strategy Working Group. Changes were then made to the draft strategy in respect of: 

• Emphasis on the commitment within the Local Area Partnership that the aspirations set out within the strategy will be inclusive of all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), encompassing varying levels and areas of need across the entire county. 

• Acknowledgement of the numerous obstacles we may encounter in pursuit of our aspirations due to various systemic challenges. With an added emphasis that despite these hurdles, there remains a steadfast commitment to progress. 

• Priority One was redefined from “Early Support” to “Early Support and Inclusion”, emphasising workforce development as a fundamental component in implementing the principles of this priority. 

• Priority Two was redefined from “Education Provision and Decision Making” to “Education Sufficiency”, with decision-making elements integrated into Priority One, allowing this workstream to concentrate solely on sufficiency planning. 

• Within Priority Three, greater emphasis has been placed on the fundamental importance of family support, which must be integrated as a core component to successfully achieve this priority. 

• Regarding Priority Four, the approach has been refined to emphasise early-stage support for self-advocacy. Additionally, the scope has been expanded to incorporate community inclusion and independence as fundamental principles. 

• Finally, improved definitions of key terms including inclusion and high support needs have been included within the glossary. 

The revised SEND and inclusion strategy then went forward to the Council’s Cabinet and was approved for publication at a meeting on 9 September 2025.