Building Inclusive Pupil Voice in SEN: Five Tips from Penn Fields School

16 Sept

For SEN schools, pupil voice can be especially challenging. With such a wide range of needs and abilities, how can every learner be included in meaningful discussions and decision-making?

At Penn Fields School in Wolverhampton, Head of PSHE, SRE, and Preparation for Adulthood Hannah Jarman wanted to ensure that pupil voice was not just a box-ticking exercise, but a genuine opportunity for all students to develop communication skills and influence school life. Since adopting the Smart School Councils model, Hannah and her team have transformed the way pupil voice works in their school.

Here are five lessons from their journey:

1. Make pupil voice part of the curriculum

Instead of treating pupil voice as an ‘add-on’, Penn Fields embedded the Class Meeting Tool into their PSHE curriculum and preparation for adulthood programme. This made pupil voice sustainable, structured, and part of everyday learning.

💡 Tip: Embedding pupil voice into existing lessons helps ensure it isn’t forgotten or sidelined.

2. Use small tutor groups

To support students with complex needs, Class Meetings at Penn Fields are run in small groups of around six. This creates a safe, familiar space where learners feel confident to take part and develop their ideas.

💡 Tip: Smaller groups make it easier to provide the right support and allow quieter students to be heard.

3. Provide structure and support

Penn Fields uses visuals, sentence starters, and differentiated support so that every learner, from verbal to non-verbal, can contribute. The predictable structure of fortnightly meetings helps students feel safe and ready to engage.

💡 Tip: Consistency is key - a clear format makes it easier for students to focus on the discussion rather than worrying about what’s coming next.

4. Encourage respectful disagreement

By modelling how to listen and respond, staff have helped pupils at Penn Fields explore different viewpoints and practise respectful debate. This has boosted not only oracy, but also empathy and understanding.

💡 Tip: Don’t shy away from disagreement – with the right support, it can be a powerful way to build communication skills.

5. Give time for growth

Penn Fields has also seen growing enthusiasm for Action Teams, where students plan and deliver projects such as a friendship bench or Anti-Bullying Week activities. Hannah emphasises that this success didn’t happen overnight, it developed gradually as pupils gained confidence.

💡 Tip: Allow pupil voice to grow and evolve, it’s a long-term investment that pays off.

A game-changer for inclusion

Since adopting Smart School Councils, Penn Fields has seen:
✅ Every pupil represented in school discussions
✅ Regular opportunities for structured oracy and debate
✅ Stronger links between pupil voice and the wider curriculum
✅ Staff more confident in facilitating pupil-led activities

As Hannah puts it:

“It’s been a game-changer for our students. Pupil voice is no longer just for a select few, it’s part of how we do things across the school.”