Lived Experience Advisory Panels

TPF has developed a framework where parent carers who have lived experience of SEND services can share their insights and experiences and allows professionals to collaborate with those they are delivering the services to.  The process is simple to facilitate and coordinate by an independent group supporting parent carers such as TPF and enables both parent carers and professionals to feel empowered to help make the changes needed. 

The Lived Experience Advisory Panel is particularly important within services and support for our children and young people with SEND because;

• anyone working with children and young people should see and speak to the child, listen to what they say and take their views seriously;
• every single child in Specialist Educational Provision has some form of communication
  difficulty;
• most children and young people with SEND struggle to express what they feel, see, and to express what the need;
• it is vital that decision makers work with those closest to the child including parent carers, and;
• numerous legislation, regulations and guidance for Children’s and Family Services reference the need for coproduction and person-centred approaches to capture the voice of children and young people, and their families

meaning that those making decisions about a child or young person must do so using a "child centred" approach.