What can I learn from pupils?

last updated:March 2009

These comments have been collated from children and young people with SEN and disability in Walsall local authority:

• Things you say or don’t say can stay with me all my life.
• I want the chance to get involved in all things including after-school clubs.
• You may need to involve my parents/carers, me and other people who know me well in finding answers to some problems.
• I don’t expect you to have all the answers but I do want you to ask if you don’t know.
• I only have one chance at education so help this to be my best shot at it.
• It may take me longer to answer a question, don’t assume that I can’t. I can cope with the embarrassment of the silence as long as you can.
• When they talk about every child matters; they mean me as well.
• I may have the same disability or special educational needs as someone else but I may need a different solution.
• Communicate with me and involve me; don’t assume my teaching assistant is my voice.
• I am a child or a young person and will go through the same ups and downs as any other child or young person does.