Issues tracker

Issues raised by children and young people

The Voice, Influence and Change Team at Leeds City Council provide opportunities for children and young people in Leeds to have a voice and influence in education, health and social care services in Leeds.  

The issues tracker is a mechanism to log the issues raised by children and young people and what action has been taken to raise these issues with services. 

All issues and challenges raised are shared with the Voice and Influence Transparency Working Group and subsequently with the Leeds Area SEND Partnership Board. 

You Said We Did case studies

We have developed case studies to share how young people in Leeds have affected change. 

If you have any further questions about the issues tracker please email VIC@leeds.gov.uk 

issues tracker children and young people

City wide issues raised by young people

Fun activities outside of school

What children and young people have told us
  • SEND training for activity providers.
  • Holding groups and activity providers accountable for accessibility.
  • Some clubs are too noisy.
  • Promote clubs and events better.
  • SEND friendly discos / roller discos.
  • More free events.
  • Timings of clubs.
  • More games / computer clubs.
  • More PAs to support yp.
  • More school trips.
  • More outdoor activities.
  • More music groups.
  • More local SEND events.

My Health, My School survey 2023/24 (99 responses)

  • 39% of young people do not visit parks or play areas.
  • 60% of young people do not go swimming outside of school.
  • 62% of young people do not take part in organised sports.
  • 68% of young people have not represented their school at a sports event. 

47 young people attended the SEND summit on the 12th February 2025, and shared what Leeds are doing well...

  • Football sessions
  • Opportunities to socialise
  • Leeds Weekenders
  • Northern ballet
  • Kickboxing club
  • Biking and skate parks
  • Leisure centres
  • Lego club
  • Dancing
  • Max cards
  • Youth groups
  • Bikeability
  • Leeds Mencap 

My Health, My School survey 2024/25 (183 responses)

  • 26% of young people do not visit parks or play areas.
  • 59% of young people do not go swimming outside of school.
  • 60% of young people do not take part in organised sports.
  • 57% of young people have not represented their school at a sports event. 
What we are doing to improve fun activities outside of school
  • A review of short breaks and fun activities in Leeds (2024).
  • Joint funding for initiatives designed to improve the wellbeing of children, young people and families in Leeds.
  • Coproduction of commissioning for short breaks.
  • Streamlining, personalising, and improving the personal budget system for children with additional needs.
  • The SEND Youth Council mystery shopped Leeds City Council leisure centre and provided recommendations (2025).
  • Child Friendly Leeds worked in partnership with Leeds Trinity University to host the second Give it a Go event in May 2025. The event that gives students an opportunity to try out different sports and activities in a safe environment. Leeds Trinity University will host the event again in 2026. 

Early diagnosis and support

What children and young people have told us
  • Help people to get their diagnosis earlier.
  • Awareness of the impact a late diagnosis has on young people.
  • Post diagnosis support.  
What we are doing improve early diagnosis and support
  • As the health issues are a challenge to the health system and will not be fully resolved easily, the Leeds Parent Carer Forum and the Designated Clinical Officer will review regularly and provide updates.
  • Additional funding for CAMHS to increase capacity.
  • 3 additional Occupational Therapists to increase capacity and reduce waiting times.

Disability awareness

What children and young people have told us
  • Disability awareness amongst peers.
  • Disability celebration.
  • People being supportive of needs
  • People to care.
  • Standardising accessibility, for example easy read, different coloured backgrounds.
  • Make the public of Leeds more aware of disabilities and SEN
  • Leaflets and information.
  • Educate people on ASC, ADHD and dyslexia
  • Information about safe places in Leeds.
  • Campaign days to raise awareness of SEND.
  • Inclusivity around communication.  
  • Give people time to process.
  • Put symbols on signs around Leeds.

47 young people attended the SEND summit on the 12th February 2025, and shared what Leeds are doing well...

  • People use Makaton.
  • Raising awareness of disabilities campaign. 
What we are doing to raise awareness of disabilities 

Raising awareness of disabilities artwork project / campaign launched May 2024. 

https://wearechildfriendlyleeds.com/raising-awareness-of-disabilities/ 

SEND training and support for professionals

What children and young people have told us
  • SEND training for all professionals, including those in the private sector.  
  • After training support and resources.
  • Standardising accessibility in the learning environment, for example easy read, different coloured backgrounds and movement breaks.
  • School staff to have awareness of different disabilities.
  • All teachers should have an understanding of students needs.

47 young people attended the SEND summit on the 12th February 2025, and shared what Leeds are doing well...

  • Lessons are engaging and fun.
  • I am encouraged to be independent at school.
  • School have introduced neuro-being sessions to help students self-regulate.
  • Staff in college are very supportive.
  • TA’s in schools are really supportive and understand our needs.
  • College give us regular breaks to help us learn. 

Yorkshire and Humber SEND Change Programme young people's report (December 2025)

  • Lack of Training/Understanding/Acceptance of ND and Additional Needs: professionals working with young people have very little or no knowledge of ND and haven’t had the training to be able to specifically support and respond to SEND young people. Lack of awareness and acceptance makes support inconsistent and ineffective. In most cases, it is the parents o young people who must challenge settings to listen and act.
What we are doing to ensure professionals receive SEND training

SENDIASS to be the first point of contact for young people, parents, carers and professionals about education, health and care processes and support available.

  • We are exploring the current training offer for school staff, which schools access the training and how we can support schools.
  • Leeds City Council's Children's Workforce Development team launched a basic SEND awareness training programme in 2025 for all children and families staff.
  • Ensure professionals in education settings are aware of the training and support available.
  • Health colleagues to launch a national SEND training framework by NHSE.
  • Working groups set up to look at training for professionals.
  • Support for education settings including early years.
  • Continued support and offer from SEND Teams and learning Inclusion to support inclusive practice in schools.
  • Continue to embed practice around being a trauma informed city.
  • Developed and launched Inclusive Mainstream Provision in December 2025. The IMP ensures families and schools understand the duties of schools around SEND. 

Mental health support

What children and young people have told us
  • Better support for over 18 year olds.
  • Mental health support for all.
  • Tailored support for young people with SEND.
  • Access to CAMHS to be made easier.
  • School staff to know where young people can receive support for their mental health.
  • More staff in school trained in mental health first aid.

My Health, My School survey 2023/24 (99 responses)

  • 40% of young people have self-harmed. 

47 young people attended the SEND summit on the 12th February 2025, and shared what Leeds are doing well...

  • There is good mental health support.
  • Mental health first aiders in school. 

My Health, My School survey 2024/25 (185 responses)

  • 28% of young people have self-harmed. 
Updates

MindMate is the local website designed with young people, for young people, their families and professionals to provide a central place for information about common mental health issues. The website it there to help you explore emotional wellbeing and mental health issues and offer information about where support is available.

For young people over 18 years old Mindwell is the mental health website for people in Leeds. The website can help you find information about support in Leeds and different ways to take care of your mental wellbeing. 

There are a range of service in place in Leeds to support children and young people’s emotional and mental health that are commissioned to work across Leeds.  

Information about Mental Health services in Leeds can be found here. 

‘School staff to know where young people can reviewed support for their mental health’ 

These three links are aimed at school staff to help them understand the support available and to promote initiatives they can join as a schools: 

A new section on MindMate has been launched which is aimed at families  -  Help from your school - MindMate. There is an A-Z list of secondary schools so that families can link through to their individual school’s page to find out about the support offered (as it varies so much). MindMate worked with the Leeds Youth Council to produce this guide to help schools improve their webpages - Good Practice Guide. 

‘More staff trained in mental health first aid’

The health and Wellbeing team have a programme of training. 

Bullying and discrimination

What children and young people have told us
  • Lessons in school about bullying and discrimination linked to SEND.
  • More assemblies in school about bullying and what to do if you are being bullied.

My Health, My School survey 2023/24 (99 responses)

  • 40% of young people have been bullied in school. 

47 young people attended the SEND summit on the 12th February 2025, and shared what Leeds are doing well...

  • I feel safe in Leeds.
  • School deals with bullying and discrimination well.
  • Staff support those who are being bullied.
  • No bullying at school – I feel safe.
  • Safe places in school. 

My Health, My School survey 2024/25 (185 responses)

  • 43% of young people have been bullied in school. 

Yorkshire and Humber SEND Change Programme young people's report (December 2025)

Bullying is a significant and recurring challenge for many SEND young people in education. In most cases, young people have been forced to leave their schools because of bullying and discrimination. Young people felt that schools are unable to adequately deal with bullying and provide support to those affected.

What we are doing to address bullying and discrimination

  • Child Friendly Leeds: 12 Wishes as a high profile and visible set of priorities (Including Wish 4). CFL Wish 4 Working Group, brings together a cross service group to look at bullying, discrimination and celebrating what connects us.
  • Leeds Healthy Schools Framework: PSHE/SEMH, bullying is included in both of these areas. This tool allows us to see how schools are grading these sections. Through schools work on healthy schools, we encourage them to have a pupil friendly version of the antibullying policy. 

Education, Health and Care Plans

What children and young people have told us

The Yorkshire and Humber SEND Change Programme report (December 2025) highlights that a significant proportion of young people are unaware they have an EHCP (Education Health Care Plan); consequently, the majority are either unaware of or do not have regular reviews to update their plans.

What we are doing to address this

  • The SEND Change Programme are identifying priorities. 

Preparing for adulthood

What children and young people have told us

The Yorkshire and Humber SEND Change Programme report (December 2025) highlights that a significant challenge is the feeling that education settings do not adequately prepare students for independent living, and adulthood. 

What we are doing to address this

  • The Voice, Influence and Change Team and SENDIASS are working in partnership with young people to develop preparing for adulthood resources (Dec 2025 to March 2026).
  • The SEND Change Programme are identifying priorities. 
Localised issues from Takeover of the Leeds Area SEND and AP Partnership Board – November 2025

Localised issues from Takeover of the Leeds Area SEND and AP Partnership Board – November 2025

Lack of safe spaces in Leeds

Issue raised by

Future Steps, Broomfield South SILC

Next steps and actions

Officers from Leeds City Museum and City Development are working with students to: 

  • Get a baseline of what safe spaces are already out there.
  • Develop a ‘what is a good safe space’, and encourage partners like WYCA , the NHS, council owned destinations, shopping centres and retailers to provide more safe spaces
  • Put together a list of what's available across the city and promote and advertise it in an accessible way. 

Accessible playgrounds and spaces

Issue raised by

Green Meadows Academy

Next steps and actions

Leeds City Council’s Park’s Technical Manager is working with students to: 

  • Provide feedback on inclusive play spaces designs within the draft 'Design Principles for Play' document.
  • Work with students on other playground improvements across the city as a regular consultee.

Raising awareness of the sunflower lanyard

Issue raised by

Pivot Academy

Next steps and actions

The Child Friendly Leeds Team are working with students to: 

  • Meet with the Sunflower team to explore teenage version.
  • Explore Disability ID Card.

Outdoor toys and shelter in the school playground

Issue raised by

Pennyfield School

Next steps and actions

Leeds City Council’s Play Lead is working with students to: 

  • Explore funding options with the school.
  • Explore play opportunities for students. 

Accessible and affordable activities including access to PAs, variety of activities, promotion and information for families

Issue raised by

Powerhouse, West SILC

Next steps and actions

Leeds City Council are working with students to: 

  • Develop information for PA’s. 

Home to school transport

Issue raised by

The Bridge, East SILC

Next steps and actions

Passenger Transport and Children’s Transport are working with students to: 

  • Review routes.
  • Drivers to dress up at Christmas.
  • Speak to drivers about roles.

Safety – pedestrian crossing outside school

Issue raised by

John Jamieson, East SILC

Next steps and actions

The Traffic Team at Leeds City Council are working with students to: 

  • Keep up to date on plans for crossing (on 26/27 list).
  • Invite local councillor into school to hear from students.

Access to leisure and sporting activities at college

Issue raised by

Enterprise and Employability, Leeds City College

Next steps and actions

Active Leeds are working with students to: 

  • Explore leisure and sporting activities that can provided in college.