One of the clearest messages from our 2024 Survey was this: families want culture change. Not just better paperwork or faster responses but a genuine shift in how the SEND system feels to be part of.

That feedback has been taken seriously. Over the past year, the Council has worked alongside PCF CWaC and other stakeholders to do something about it. Nearly 400 people with lived experience of the SEND system came together in a series of engagement sessions to talk honestly about how they want to be communicated with, how they want to be worked with, and what consistency should look like across Cheshire West and Chester.

The result is the SEND Commitment.

What is the SEND Commitment?

The SEND Commitment is about setting the right tone for how everyone in the SEND system works together. It’s a set of shared promises, created with families, professionals, and young people to make sure everyone feels included, respected, and focused on making things better.

A working group of different partners is now embedding the Commitment across CWaC, supported by an outcomes framework to measure the difference it makes in practice.

The Commitment is underpinned by the Cheshire and Merseyside Parent Carer Forum Cluster Group SEND Co-production Charter and the Local Voices Framework (LVF): Co-production Definition and Principles.

The Seven Commitments

The group agreed that these seven commitments must underpin all interactions across the SEND system:

1. Putting Children First

Every decision and action will focus on what’s best for the child or young person. Their voice is always considered first. Everything we do is centred on what is best for the child or young person working diligently to ensure their voice is heard, valued, and taken seriously.

2. Clear and Honest Communication

Everyone involved will share information in a way that is easy to understand, truthful, and shared at the right time. No jargon, no surprises.

3. Listening and Caring

We will really listen to each other and show we care. Building relationships is our priority.

4. Trust and Accountability

We build trust by keeping our word, treating each other with respect, and owning what we say and do.

5. Fair and Open Services

Services you need will be welcoming and easy to access, regardless of your background or circumstances. Let’s challenge barriers together.

6. Working Together

Families and young people will be invited to co-produce the services they use. Their experiences and ideas matter.

7. Easy-to-Use Systems

A shared commitment to making our systems straightforward and easy for everyone to understand and use, families, professionals, and young people alike.

What This Means for Families

This isn’t just a document that lives in a folder. The SEND Commitment is being actively embedded across Cheshire West and Chester, with real work happening to make sure it changes how things feel on the ground.

As your Parent Carer Forum, we’ll be keeping a close eye on how the Commitment is being put into practice — and we want to hear from you. If you’ve experienced something that reflects these values, or if you’ve noticed when things still fall short, please let us know.

Culture change is possible. It starts with this.

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