Summary report 2023-24

Summary

This report summarizes the feedback from the SEND Annual Review Survey for Children and Young People, conducted by "Your say Southend" between August 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024. The survey aimed to capture the experiences and perspectives of children and young people regarding their Education, Health and Care (EHC) annual reviews and their overall well-being.

Survey interaction

Key engagement metrics from the "Your say Southend" platform include:

• Total visits: 184
• new registrations: 1
• informed visitors: 37

Survey participation:

• visitors to the survey tool: 26
• contributors to the survey: 6

The survey results indicate that:

• Respondents were aged between under 5 and 25 years old, with the largest groups being 5-11 and 16-25 and most attending mainstream schools.
• Autism was the most common special educational need reported.
• While most annual review meetings were held online, there was a mixed experience regarding control over the meeting's time and location.
• Preparation for the review was mixed, with some receiving help and others needing more.
• A significant portion of respondents felt able to share their views, but some felt only partially heard.
• Views on whether their opinions were acted upon since the last review were varied, with "Some of them, but not all" or "Not sure" being common responses.
• The annual review generally helped respondents see their progress, though many felt they were making progress in areas other than education "partly" or were "not sure." Involvement in setting goals was mixed, and confidence in meeting goals varied.
• Parents/carers and teachers were consistently identified as the most helpful sources of support. The EHCP was largely seen as "partially" helping to achieve goals.
• Responses regarding mental health, confidence in making friends, and feeling accepted in the local community were mixed, with a significant number indicating "some of the time," "no," or "don't know."
• A notable percentage felt their voice and opinions were heard "some of the time" or "not sure."
• Most respondents completed the survey with help from someone else.

Overall, the survey indicates that while there are positive aspects to the annual review process and support, there are also areas where improvements can be made, particularly in ensuring young people feel fully heard, that their views are consistently acted upon, and in fostering a sense of inclusion within their local community. The survey summary results are available upon request.