The importance of enabling children and young people to have a voice in decisions regarding their life and learning is central to SEND policy. children and young people's participation should be encouraged in all decision-making processes including setting individual targets, support plans and contributing to assessments and reviews. Schools and colleges need to promote a culture of ensuring pupil voice across a range of issues and children and young people need to be taught and supported to contribute appropriately and effectively.

• Research suggests that listening to the views of children and young people with SEND is highly beneficial for all. It increases children and young people's motivation, independence, perception of personal control and progress.

• When children and young people are part of decision-making processes, they can provide appropriate information about their skills and abilities and offer their views about possible interventions; enhancing the likelihood of successful outcomes (Todd, 2003).

• The SEND Code of Practice makes it very clear that children and young people's views should be sought throughout any process of planning or assessment; every assess-plan-do-review cycle is an opportunity to enable children and young people to be involved in decision making.

• It is up to adults to ensure that children and young people see the impact of their contribution, as many children and young people become frustrated when their voice appears to be ignored or the gathering of their views is tokenistic.