Introduction
We are committed to listening to the voice of parent carers and working with them to secure good outcomes for children and young people who live in Somerset, with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND).
(Somerset SEND Strategy 2023 – 2026 mission statement)
Through engagement activities, discussion events, surveys and consultations we seek feedback about local services to help us improve them and to make sure they meet the needs of local families. See our Having your voice heard section for more information.
Our local partnership with the Somerset Parent Carer Forum
A local partnership agreement between Somerset Parent Carer Forum, Somerset Council and NHS Somerset recognises the forum as the area’s strategic voice for parent carers. Through this, there is parent representation on many workstreams and this means that parent carers’ voices are at the centre of what we do. When parent carers and professionals work together, recognising each other’s expert knowledge, informed decisions are made. This makes the best use of people’s time and money.
Somerset Parent Carer Forum is an independent forum for parents carers of children or young people with SEND in Somerset. The Department for Education funds the forum so that Somerset’s parent carers have their say on how services are run and the decisions which are made.
Any parent carer who has or looks after a child or young person (age 0 to 25) with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities can join and raise issues through the forum. The forum is run by and for parents and carers.
Read more about our past work
You can find our more in the annual reports below