Welcome
 Parent Carer Forum Devon (PCFD) is for ALL families of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities in Devon. They are an independent group of parents and carers of children with additional needs and disabilities who want to make things better for the families, children and young people of Devon. PCFD will connect with parents across the county to understand the wide picture of what life is really like for families - identifying problems as well as what’s working well. PCFD works in partnership with the Local Authority (LA), the NHS and other professionals to make sure that services in Devon are accessible and meet the needs of children and their families. We are actively looking for people to join the forum.
If you like to become involved or to know more get in touch by emailing: admin@parentcarerforumdevon.org
DIAS is an impartial, confidential and free service for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families.
Our aim is to see that parents and carers are empowered and can make informed decisions. In addition, we help to support children and young people ensuring their views are heard and understood, enabling them to make their own decisions about their future. You can find out more about us on the DiAS website.
We are supporting the forum to get a wider reach and have started an exciting new project, the Ambassador Volunteer Project, to get our information and advice to more families in rural areas of Devon and provide a mechanism for feedback into our service and into the parent forum.
Champions for Change started new in 2020, with the first meeting taking place at Space’s Tiverton Youth Centre in February. The first meeting was attended by four young people from Bidwell Brook and Ellen Tinkham schools, during we which got to know each other with team building exercises and had a really constructive debate about important issues, and it was fantastic to hear the ambitious views of the champions on how to develop the group from here, on – reaching out to other schools across Devon, making links with young people and school councils to create a self-supporting network for the exchange of views and opinions.
Please find more information, on the group's ambitions, their plans going forward and partners working with Champions for Change.
We are still at the early stages of development, and our aims are ambitious, but from tiny acorns mighty oaks do grow! Please do spread the word far and wide across the county to help us to continue to develop.
During March the BBC are launching their Tiny Happy People campaign to increase awareness of child development and the importance of speech, language and communication. The resources are fantastic – there are videos, activity suggestions (from antenatal-5yrs), tips, recipes and loads of really helpful advice for both professionals and families. Find more information on the resources here and click here for the link to the BBC Website.
At the SEND Improvement Board on the 27th February, a draft action plan was shared with the Board following the coproduction event we had with families and staff on the 22nd January.
The plan will help us achieve the four outcomes we identified together. These are: -
1. A single joined up and transparent process for personal budgets
2. Having “Different conversations” taking place with children and families as business as usual,
3. We have clear and accessible information about personal budgets (covering clear information on eligibility for budgets in Health, education and social care).
4. We align market development (so that when people have a budget, they have the option to use provision locally).
Thank you very much for your valued contribution to our plan. We look forward to continuing to work with you to deliver this. |
COVID - 19
As a result of the COVID19 pandemic, we are having to adjust the ways we are working to support children and families with SEND. Consequently, we have stepped down most of the meetings and group activities that we had planned over March and April, but please be assured that we continue to work together to ensure our most vulnerable children are well supported. A lot of this revolves around more efficient use of the technology we have at our disposal and more innovative ways to work together. You can find out all about how we are continuing to support children and families at this time on our updated Local Offer pages here and our new Coronavirus advise in Devon webpage.
Thank you all for the support you are continuing to provide throughout these challenging times.
Over the last few months there have been some changes about how parents can get their voices heard in shaping the services in Devon. This is still in a process of change and we wanted to let you know what is happening. Not everything is changing but there are some new things to tell you about. Last year DPCV (Devon Parents Carer Voice) asked parents how they could better connect them into shaping services. There has been lots of discussion and planning and the decision was made to create a new parent carer forum.
The new Ambassador Volunteer project is working to connect parents in communities and into a Devon wide network that is linked to the parent carer forum
The aim of the project is to connect parents, carers and professionals who are interested in championing change and influencing policy for children and young people with SEND. We have been recruiting volunteers who would like to be a link in their own community ensuring parents are informed, know how to access advice and support and have their voice heard. There has already been a lot of interest and we already have 19 active volunteers and are connected to over 14 groups. If you would like to be involved or would like any more information, please contact Megan Kenneally-Stone megan.kenneally-stone@devon.gov.uk
There is a growing consensus across society including government, employers, teachers, and parents, as to the importance of oracy in education. However, members of the Oracy All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) are concerned that oracy is being undervalued and overlooked within state education, denying the majority of children and young people the opportunity to develop these vital skills and hampering social mobility, educational achievement, wellbeing and future employability.
This inquiry is investigating the current provision of oracy education in the UK, assess the value and impact of oracy education and identify the barriers to children accessing and receiving quality oracy education.
Contributions from education practitioners, primary and secondary aged students and other professionals are being sought.
There are a number of ways to get involved and submit your views including short surveys and submitting audio and/or visual presentations.
For more information please visit: https://www.oracyappg.org.uk/submit-evidence-here
Speech, language and communication are fundamental life skills and have a profound impact on life chances. Speech, language and communication needs are extremely common, yet often invisible. Please find more information on a new document to help professionals support parent / carers.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a range of strategies and tools to help people who struggle with speech, language and communication. For example, the use of pictures or symbols, gestures, signing or sophisticated computer-based systems. AAC helps someone to communicate as effectively as possible, in as many situations as possible. Here is some more information around the work that is being done with professionals and parent / carers. |
