Outside the Box
When it comes to raising awareness about neurodiversity, free-thinking students at King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls really are thinking ‘Outside the Box’. Any given Monday lunchtime, while most of the school enjoys the midday break, you’ll find the school’s learning hub alive with topical discussion, eye-opening presentations and hands-on workshops. It’s all part of a student-led project called Outside the Box, which has become the perfect platform for exploring neurodiverse conditions, encouraging inclusion and promoting positive mental health.
Originally started by a former student, Outside the Box is now led by Emina, Afreen, and Nimrah. This terrific trio is supported by Angela Lomas, the school’s SEN Coordinator, who helps design and deliver the sessions. Angela said: “Outside the Box is for students who are neurodiverse, but also advocates for students who are neurodiverse as well. The topics they discuss are very much guided by them and they do different activities around educating each other.
“It’s really important for the children to understand themselves to enable them to celebrate their individuality.”
Key themes tackled during these popular sessions include important subjects such as masking – where people with neurodiverse conditions feel the need to mask their symptoms to blend in.
King Edward’s student Afreen, who co-hosts the sessions, explains: “Outside the Box helps to bring awareness of what actually happens. Not everyone is neurodiverse, so neurotypical people need to be informed of what goes on.”
She added: “We are a community of people who want change and want to get rid of any stigma around this issue.”
SEND and Inclusion Strategies
We know that children and young people with SEND are some of the most vulnerable in our society and it is our collective responsibility to provide them with the support they need to thrive. The SEND Strategy 2023 – 2028 has been developed with this in mind, and it sets out a clear vision for improving outcomes for our CYP.
The Inclusion Strategy sets out our shared vision, key principles, principles of practice and contextual factors, to ensure that, as partners, we are working together effectively to identify and meet the needs of Birmingham’s children, young people and young adults. The strategy commits the partnership to promoting inclusion and excellent outcomes for children, young people and young adults to achieve their potential, and fulfil their dreams and aspirations
Finally, we are delighted to share Birmingham’s five-year Children and Young People’s Plan. This plan sets out the strategic actions we will take together to achieve our bold ambition: to make Birmingham a great place to grow up for all our children and young people.
All strategies have been co-produced with our stakeholders to ensure all partners make a positive difference for our children, young people and their families.
SEND Co-production Case Studies
We would love to hear about your SEND co-production work. If you have any examples of co-commissioning, co-designing, co-delivering, or co-assessing services with children and families, please complete the SEND Co-production Case Study Template and send it to coproductionawards@birmingham.gov.uk.
Mapping Co-production in Birmingham
The first phase of this project (October–December 2021), mapped and analysed 48 current and recent co-production activities in Birmingham relevant to children and young people (0–25 years) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. This report contributed to the development of the Birmingham SEND co-production framework and charter.
Building on the first report and the Birmingham SEND co-production framework and charter, between January and July 2022, Governance International was commissioned to map the options for embedding co-production in Birmingham SEND services and support systems. It also looked at widening and deepening it and making it more effective, working with children and young people with SEND, their parents, carers, children, young people, professionals and community members.
See the list of reports below:
Red Quadrant Case Study
Birmingham City Council commissioned Red Quadrant to deliver a co-produced review of day opportunities in the city. They wanted to engage a wide range of people involved in day services – the people who use them, families, carers, providers and other professionals. They wanted to understand the impact of the pandemic on people and services and wanted to hear what people valued about day opportunities and importantly how they can change for the future. Please view the full report providing the foundation for the next steps in planning for day opportunities in Birmingham.
Woodgate Valley Urban Farm
Woodgate Valley Urban Farm is a registered charity dedicated to offering a range of practical work and volunteering experiences for those within our local community. There is a special emphasis on supporting young people with additional needs who struggle with social exclusion, educational exclusion, and poor mental health.
The farm holds and manages farmland, orchards, and woodland within Woodgate Valley Country Park under licence from Birmingham City Council. The farm’s survival relies entirely upon donations from the public, grant-giving organisations, benefactors, service-level agreements and partnerships.
On Monday, 30 October 2023, Lakhvir Sahota, Participation and Co-Production Officer for Birmingham City Council, visited the farm and met with Sue Hawkeswood, the farm’s Trustee and Project Manager.
Surveys
Children and Young People Survey 2022
Between July 15 and September 12, 2022, two online surveys were carried out of young people identifying with additional needs aged 12 to 29 in Birmingham. One survey was for young people aged 12 to 18 still at school or college, and the other was for young adults aged 19 to 29.
Children and Young People’s Survey Report (2022)
Parent Carer Survey 2022
A huge part of Co-production is making sure that parents, carers and young people have a say in the improvement of SEND services across Birmingham. To collect their thoughts and feedback, a Parent, Carer Survey is created yearly. See the final report and summary of the survey from 2022, published below.
The 2022 Parent Carer Survey Final Summary
Parent Carer Survey Report (2022)
There were also workshop engagement events held with parents and carers to hear even more about SEND services in the city. See the full report below.