08 AUGUST 2025
At Witherslack Group, we believe the best way to improve is to listen to the people who matter most, the children and young people who live and learn with us. That is why we created the Speak Up Squad, a group of passionate volunteers who meet in a safe, supportive space to share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
The Speak Up Squad gives children the chance to talk openly about topics chosen by teams. These conversations help us understand what life is really like for them, and the feedback they share leads to real, meaningful change. Over the past year, we have focused on hearing their views around ‘institutionalised’ practice. Alongside these important discussions, they have enjoyed visiting our schools, joining activities, and building friendships with one another.
In our first session, the Squad explored the theme of ‘Use of Language’. The children told us what works, what doesn’t, and how our words make them feel. While they understood the need for some of our processes, they also felt that certain rules were too restrictive. They asked us to review and improve these so they have more freedom and flexibility in their daily lives.
We have already begun an initial Policy Review to update the language we use across our services, making sure it reflects the voices and experiences of our children. These views have been shared with colleagues across the Group through newsletters, keeping everyone connected to the conversation.
Alongside this, we are completing our review of Institutionalised Practice and producing child-informed research to guide changes in how we work. We are collaborating with partners across the Witherslack Group to put these changes into action, ensuring that the children’s voices directly shape our policies and practices.
Our commitment to the Speak Up Squad is only growing. We are expanding the group, building links with school councils, and developing a child voice app and website to make it even easier for young people to be heard.
The Speak Up Squad has already shown us the power of listening. Their voices inspire us, challenge us, and push us to do better. This is just the beginning. We will keep working alongside our pupils, valuing their experiences and acting on their ideas. We will never stop listening, we will never stop learning, and most importantly, we will never stop caring.