Local SEND Improvement
Shout Out for SEND (SOfS)
Buckinghamshire Council wants to listen to and act on what young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) think and feel.
Shout Out for SEND is a youth voice programme for children and young people with SEND. It helps them share their ideas and is linked to the SEND Partnership Board.
What Shout Out for SEND (SOfS) reps do
Shout Out for SEND runs several youth participation activities including:
- monthly meetings with young people who volunteer as Shout Out for SEND Reps
- school workshops
- youth interview panels
- local forums called ‘Shout Out for SEND: Get Active!’ where young people with SEND can share their views
- public speaking and training opportunities at local and national meetings and events
Children and Young People's Plan
The SOfS Reps work with senior leaders to create and deliver the Children and Young People’s Plan. This plan sets out the priorities that young people with SEND have identified.
Each year, the Reps meet with senior leaders, as part of the SEND Partnership Board, to check progress and shape the Plan.
In 2025, SOfS completed its first Children and Young People’s Plan (2024–25). This led to:
- New training resources on inclusive practice in schools
- Campaigning for SEND to be included in the curriculum, locally and nationally
- A report on how mental health services can reduce barriers for young people with SEND
- Resources to help professionals support transitions across education, health, and social care
- Peer‑led videos advising young people preparing for adulthood
Next steps for 2026
From 2026, SOfS will start work on the next version of the Children and Young People’s Plan. Priorities include:
- Improving inclusive education
- Supporting “active waiting” for mental health services
- Creating a new SEND Young Inspectors programme
Wider Youth Voice work
Alongside the work of the Reps, the Youth Voice Bucks team:
- Delivers Shout Out for SEND workshops in schools
- Runs the SEND area at the Bucks Youth Summit
- Responds to requests across the Council and local services
- Helps teams listen to, understand, and act on the views of children and young people with SEND