SEND survey 2025

With over 28,000 children and young people (CYP) with SEND in Norfolk, 0-25 years old, we want lots more people to complete the SEND survey in 2025.

We believe that:

• CYP are experts in their own lives and should have the chance to give their views, know they will be listened to and action will be taken.
• Parents/carers know their children well and should have the chance to give their views about what is working, what needs to be improved knowing action will be taken.
• Teachers, teaching assistants and key workers work hard to understand the needs of CYP and get the right support in place. They should have the chance to give their views about what is working well and what needs to be improved knowing action will be taken.

When lots of people give their views, we get a more accurate picture about the effectiveness of SEND provision, services, support and information.

We want you to commit to completing the SEND survey in 2025 and to encouraging and supporting parents/carers and children and young people with SEND, up to and including those aged 25 years old, to complete their surveys too.

How is your feedback used?

Our last SEND survey was in 2023. All feedback was read, analysed and written up into three separate reports.

The reports were used to shape our Norfolk Area SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy and by leaders to make decisions about what actions to take to improve the lives of CYP with SEND, and their families.

Lots of action has already been taken. You can read about in it the You said, we did report 2023-24.

Other actions are now being worked on as part of our Local Area Inclusion Plan (LAIP).

This year's results will be used to update the LAIP for 2025-2027.

How will I know that the SEND survey feedback is read and acted upon?

The reports will be published on the SEND Local Offer for people to read.

There will be a yearly update on the progress of actions in the LAIP every July.

Complete the SEND survey

Follow this link to access all versions of the SEND survey (available from 13 January only).

Resources to explain the SEND survey to children and young people

We have created an introductory PowerPoint presentation which includes a video co-produced with young people. These will help you to explain the SEND survey to children and young people (CYP) with SEND, up to and including 25 years old.

• SEND survey 2025 introduction (Powerpoint, 3 MB) 
• Norfolk County Council SEND Survey 2025 video (Vimeo, one-minute introduction):
  

Different survey formats

We have created the SEND survey in different formats to make it easier for children and young people to participate.

Online

Within the online survey platform, there are the following options for CYP who are 0-25 years old:

• Plain text version
• Widgit (words with symbols) version
• Easy Read (words with pictures) version
• Group response version

Paper copies

If a CYP would prefer a paper copy of any of the above, please email send@norfolk.gov.uk.

Braille

We can also offer the SEND survey in Braille for CYP on request; please email send@norfolk.gov.uk.

Other resources

We have also developed:

• Some printable Widgit questions and response cards (PDF, 1 MB) that can be used with children who use words with symbols
• A  SEND survey group session resource (Powerpoint, 2 MB) with just the questions for teachers or supporting adults to use with a group

Other support

Participation team

Our participation team are committed to supporting children and young people in special or complex needs schools to complete the survey and share their views.

Email csparticipationteam@norfolk.gov.uk to find out how Amy and Laura can support your school

School and community teams

Our School and Community Teams are committed to promoting the SEND survey to all parents/carers they are working with and promoting its importance to mainstream school leaders, teachers and TAs.

Speak to your team to about how they can support you with the SEND survey.

Children and young people (CYP) with SEND will have different ways of communicating their experiences. As adults we need to find ways to help all CYP with SEND and aged 0-25 years to give their views.

Some children with SEND may need:

• The questions presented in words with pictures or symbols
• Help to understand some questions
• Help to communicate their answers
• A chance to answer questions in short bursts
• Longer time to think about their answers

The SEND survey for CYP can be accessed online here (from 13 January only) and is in the following formats:

• Words with symbols (Widgit version)
• Words with pictures (Easy read version)
• Standard text
• Group response

Paper copies of all formats plus a Braille version can be requested from send@norfolk.gov.uk.

Saving answers to return and complete

In the online survey, you can answer a few questions, then press "Save and continue later". You will be asked to enter your name and email address. This enables the system to send you an email with an individualised link so that you can continue your responses to the survey later.

We would rather have some answers than none and so please remember to 'finish' the survey, even if you have skipped some questions.  

Ideas to help children and young people 0-25 years old to complete the SEND survey

One-to one

• Ask a couple of questions at a time
• Skip questions if you need to
• Ask the questions over several days or weeks
• Do the SEND survey in discussion with a small group
• Email or set up in Google Classroom for children to complete individually
• Use Talking Mats with Widgit symbols and record the child's answers for them in the online or paper survey

Groups

• Ask children to pair up to ask each other the questions and input or write down each other's answers
• Ask the group to answer the questions as a short activity over several days or weeks
• Ask selected questions to a small group, facilitate discussion and record the group response
• Ask selected questions to a small group and give them response cards to show their answers for you to record

Remember - every child or young person up to and including 25 years old that is supported to complete the SEND survey is an important voice heard.