Following feedback from parent carers across Solihull, the Council and Solihull Parent Carer Voice (SPCV), who work on behalf of families, have been looking at how all parent carers can be involved in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) services.
This means having access to information and having their voice heard, regardless of where they live in the borough or whether they are part of a support group, or not.
To support this, the Council and SPCV will jointly host face to face meetings (COVID allowing) three times a year for any parent carer to attend. We will look at venues across the borough. By attending, parent carers will be able to hear updates from council staff and raise any challenges being faced by families. The first general meeting will be advertised shortly.
We will also arrange specific events to consult with families when changes are proposed by the council. A virtual meeting has already been advertised for Tuesday 2 November at 10am, when parent carers will be asked for their views on Solihull’s proposed Additional Needs Strategy. We would encourage any group working with, or supporting parent carers, to promote these and future events. Details of all parent carer events with the council will be shared by the SPCV at spcv.org.uk/events.