Norfolk SEND survey results 2023 summary

74% of parents/carers said they had not given feedback on the services they use in the last 12 months. 32% said they were not confident anything changed if you did give feedback. 

Parents and carers felt communication and working together needs to improve across all sectors and services. This is about parents/carers being involved, kept informed, and being asked for their views about services and support. 

Parents/carers felt staff knowledge, skills and understanding was often a concern, and it was highlighted that professionals needs more training in meeting the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). 

156 parents/carers said they would like to be actively involved in helping the Norfolk local area to improve SEND services and will be contacted this autumn. 

Find help: Parents/carer feedback is very important and welcomed. There are several ways you can give feedback including Family Voice Norfolk parent carer forum , online Making Sense of SEND events  or by completing one of our SEND online feedback forms . 

Professionals    83% of professionals said either themselves or their organisation work in co-production with parents/carers and/or children and young people. 

Over 40% of professionals gather feedback from parents/carers informally, valuing the importance of regular communication. Over a third gather feedback during meetings, including review meetings and events were mentioned by a small number of professionals. 

51% said they use feedback to make changes within their service or organisation. 

Almost 50% have improved how they communicate with children and young people and parent/carers. Almost 25% had held more face-to-face sessions or adapted sessions to meet the needs of children and young people and parent/carers. 

Most children and young people said they liked to share their views by talking (73%). A few said they liked to use technology or a trusted person to give their views. 

Just over 60% of children and young people felt that people listened to them. However, 29% said they were listened to sometimes, but 11% felt no one listened to them.  

Find help: Planning SEND services together