Live Well Live: Strengthening Support for Young People with Additional Needs

The demand for children and young people’s SEND support is growing, leading to increasing waitlists, rising school exclusions, and more children being placed in Tier 4 (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) beds for neurodivergent mental health needs. But what if we could move away from crisis-driven SEND intervention and instead focus on a preventative, community-led, and system-enabled approach that adapts environments to better support SEND needs?

Join this upcoming webinar to explore the impact of co-produced and person-centred community interventions in creating SEND-inclusive learning environments and neighbourhoods for children and young people.

We’ll discuss how projects across GM are devolving power to children, parents and carers to influence decision-making, and how collaboration between schools, families, and community organisations are being strengthened to provide wrap-around SEND support. By working together, listening and empowering children and young people, these approaches are improving support for SEND children, their families, and carers, while also helping to reduce school exclusions and waiting times for healthcare-focused SEND services.

Speakers Include:

Diane Ainsworth, Pioneer House

Carla Chorlton, Neurodiversity in Education GM

Maria Simpkin and Parent/Carer Forum Reps, Manchester City Council