“Together we can Make A Difference”
PODS Parent Carer Forum is the formally recognised, independent peer-led organisation, founded in 2008, representing and involving families of Children and Young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), aged 0-25years.
The forum is led by Jayne Stevens, our Strategic Co-ordinator, and founder of the Parent Carer Forum. She is supported by a team of volunteer Parent Reps.
We gather parent carer and family experiences of local services, and represent these at a strategic and operational level:
- We work across health, social care, education and voluntary sector partners.
- we work with service leads to share collective views.
- we work with commissioners to develop and design services, pathways and processes to improve outcomes for our children and young people.
- we shape and support improvement to practices and services.
- we influence policy and strategic direction.
- To ultimately ensure improved outcomes for all.
We gather parent carer and family views in a number of ways:
- Annual Survey
- Social Media (private facebook group)
- Family groups and activities
- Focus Groups
- Workshops
- Events and Activities
- Conversations with families via phone, email, face to face, one to one meetings
- Tell us your experiences form
If you are a Parent Carer and would like to become a member, please complete our Membership Form.
If you are a professional working in Local Authority, ICB/ICS or work in an educational setting and would like to request a Parent Carer Representative to be involved with any projects or workstreams, to ensure co-production, please contact us 07775 342092 or jayne@podstelford.org
Our Parent Carers have the experience and expertise to help you gain a fuller understanding of the challenges, issues and successes SEND families face.
Having a learning difficulty or disability means that a pupil has greater difficulty in learning than most pupils of the same age, or a disability which makes it more difficult for them to use the school facilities. For example, they may have problems with:
- Specific areas of learning, like reading, writing or number work
- Expressing themselves or understanding what others are saying
- Making friends or relating to adults
- Managing their emotions or behaviour
- Problems with seeing, hearing, or moving around
- Medical conditions that impact on learning
- Mental health difficulties, e.g. anxiety or depression