SEND survey launched to help inform SEND support in Cheshire East

A new special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) survey has launched for people to share their views and experiences to help improve services and support.

The Cheshire East 0-25 SEND Partnership has launched the 2026  survey for professionals, families, parent carers, children, young people, educational settings and anyone who contributes to the delivery of SEND services for children and young people aged 0 – 25.

The aim of the survey is to discover what is working well, and what improvements are required in order to strengthen the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND.

The survey has been created using the TOGETHER principles which is the partnership’s shared definition of coproduction in Cheshire East. These principles set out how partners will work together as equal partners to improve, develop and deliver services towards a common goal for all children, young people, families and adults.  

It has been designed with the support of the Cheshire East Parent Carer Forum with separate sets of questions for children and young people, parents and carers and professionals.

The findings from the 2025 survey were used to inform the priorities and development areas within the SEND Partnership’s strategy and development plan (known as the SEND and AP ‘One Plan’), with the detailed findings informing and driving work in key area.

This includes improvements to our Local Offer for SEND and SENDing you the news e-newsletters, alongside development of training opportunities and the council’s Inclusion Strategy. 

From this year’s survey, the partnership are seeking to find out whether these areas for improvement have changed since the last survey, and to make sure there is continuous focus on making developments in the areas that matter most to families and practitioners.

Councillor Laura Crane, chair of Cheshire East Council’s children and families committee, said:

“Our annual SEND survey is an important chance for anyone who supports or cares for a child or young person with SEND to share their experiences. Your voices help us understand what daily life really looks like and the challenges families and professionals may face

“Our priority is to make sure every child in Cheshire East has the best possible start in life. Hearing what’s working well – and where we can do better – is essential, and we really value people taking the time to tell us. By listening closely to our residents, we can continue to shape our approach in a way that truly reflects your needs and aspirations.

“SEND has been a key national focus recently, and here in Cheshire East we’ve already begun strengthening our inclusive mainstream education system so more children can have their needs met close to home. We know there is still more to do, and the feedback from this survey will play a vital role in guiding that work. We are committed to ensuring that children, young people and their families remain at the heart of all our future plans.”

The survey can be accessed on the Cheshire East website.

If help is required in completing this survey, friends, family members or trusted adult can help to fill this in.

Feedback is sought before the deadline on Monday 4th May 2026.

The feedback received will remain strictly confidential and will be used to help the council identify what needs to be improved.