Why we have It
The Parents in Partnership Forum has been running for several years, it was originally know as the Parents, Voluntary Sector and LEA Forum (PVL Forum), the name was changed to reflect the different parties involved.  The purpose of the Parents in Partnership Forum is to ensure that parents/carers have an arena for their views to be heard and fed back to the Local Authority. 

Professionals also attend the forum to give parents/carers regular updates on what is happening in the Wakefield district regarding Special Educational Needs.          

Main Function
The aim of the forum is to assist parents/carers to have their views heard by professionals, including those who work for the Local Authority and voluntary sector. 

The Parents in Partnership Forum does this by:-

• Assisting parents/carers to have their views heard.
• To work with schools and the Local Authority so parents are better informed about the Special Educational Needs process and procedure.
• Enable parents and voluntary organisations to understand and contribute to changes in policy and practice.
• Enable the Local Authority to understand the issues important to parents.

Guest speakers are regularly invited to the forum, with a view to keeping parents/carers up to date with what is happening in the Wakefield District, past topics have included:-

• Transport
• Wakefield Early Support and Information Liaison Service
• SEN Panel
• Transition
• Aiming Higher for Disabled Children

Who attends?
Any parents or carers of a school aged child with Special Educational Needs are welcome to attend.   Professionals from the Local Authority and voluntary sector, who work with children and young people with Special Educational Needs, can also attend the forum. 

Professionals only stay for the first hour of the forum, as the second hour is for parents and carers to talk about any issues they have.   

How often does it meet and where?
The Parents in Partnership Forum meets four times a year usually at the Town Hall in Wakefield from 7.00pm - 9.00pm.  

If you would like to attend the next Parents in Partnership Forum, please contact the Parent Partnership Service on 0800 587 8042.    

Minutes of the Forum
Copies of the minutes from the Parents in Partnership Forum can be viewed in Related Downloads.