Young People’s Voices at the Heart of SEND Reform
Shaping the future of inclusive education
One of the key aims of the CENMAC Student Voice Programme is to ensure that children and young people are not only supported, but are also given meaningful opportunities to contribute to conversations that shape the future of inclusive education.
CENMAC Changemakers Collective attend Parliament
That commitment recently came to life when members of the CENMAC Changemakers Collective attended the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Assistive and Accessible Technology at the House of Commons.
The parliamentary roundtable, chaired by Peter Swallow MP and organised by Policy Connect, brought together educators, researchers, practitioners and people with lived experience to explore how assistive technology can support the government’s proposed reforms to the SEND system.
Improving outcomes for children and young people
Representing CENMAC, Kathryn Stowell, Head of CENMAC and Khamani Edwards, Student Voice Lead, joined a panel of speakers to share their experiences and perspectives on the role that assistive technology plays in improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
While speaking on the panel was an important opportunity, CENMAC wanted to go one step further. Rather than simply talking about the importance of listening to young people, we invited members of our recently formed Changemakers Collective to attend the event alongside us.
For the students, this was their first visit to Parliament and their first opportunity to experience a national discussion about issues that directly affect their education and future. Sitting alongside policymakers, professionals and sector leaders, they were able to see first-hand how conversations about SEND reform and assistive technology are shaping future policy and practice.
Initiatives and Innovation
The discussion explored how initiatives such as assistive technology lending libraries, teacher training and innovation across the sector can support the Government’s proposed SEND reforms. Throughout these conversations, one message remained clear: technology is most effective when it is developed and implemented with the needs and experiences of children and young people at its heart.
The importance of Student Voice
At CENMAC, we believe that children and young people are experts in their own experiences. Bringing our Changemakers to Parliament reflected the values at the centre of our Student Voice Programme, ensuring that young people are not only represented in conversations about change but are given opportunities to experience, contribute to and help shape them.
This visit marks another exciting milestone in the development of the CENMAC Student Voice Programme. As the programme continues to grow, we look forward to creating more opportunities for children and young people to engage with national organisations, policymakers and partners, ensuring their voices continue to influence the future of inclusive education and assistive technology.
Blog author: Khamani Edwards, CENMAC Student Voice Lead
Kathryn Stowell, Head of CENMAC and Khamani Edwards, Student Voice Lead at Parliament
Khamani Edwards, Student Voice Lead with his Nan at Parliament