Q1. We want children, young people and their families to be involved in making better, evidence based decisions about SEND, both in their local area and across the country...

How can we make sure children, young people and their families have a genuine say in these decisions?

In your answer, you may want to consider:

• The DfE’s own data shows that 50% of previously looked after children (including adopted children) have SEND (data obtained via a freedom of information request by Adoption UK).
• Despite this, the SEND consultation document does not mention this group of children at all.
• The consultation document only mentions children who are looked after and children in need once.
• Care-experienced children are both overrepresented and underserved by SEND provision. The Government should seek to explicitly gather the views of care-experienced children and young people (including those who are being educated out of school), their families, and organisations that represent them.