Reasons for listening to and consulting with a child or young person

Listening to and consulting with a child or young person benefits everyone. 

Benefits include:

• Enhancing emotional well-being and raising self-esteem. This is done by enabling the child or young person to have a voice which is listened to and acted upon.
• Developing a collaborative and inclusive environment.
• Increasing knowledge and understanding of how a child or young person responds and views the support they receive.
• Understanding what further support the child or young person may need and from who.
• Ensuring the child or young person’s individual needs are met by enabling them to identify and share what is important to them.
• Developing positive relationships and gaining a better understanding of the child or young person to best support their needs.
• Creating a sense of responsibility for oneself and others by enabling the child or young person to give their views on actions for change.
• Meaningful engagement, negotiation and interaction leads to more successful learning, social and emotional outcomes.
• Providing the child or young person an opportunity to have an active role and say in the decisions that affect them in their education and schooling.