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Parent Champions for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
How does it work?
Parent Champions are parent volunteers who give a few hours a week to talk to other parents about childcare and other local services available to families. Parent Champions for SEND focus on what specialist support is available locally and nationally, understand the barriers families often face in accessing services, and are able to offer practical solutions. Parent Champions can also act as a vital bridge between local services and families, feedback relevant issues, and work to influence change where it matters to parents.
Why Parent Champions?
Parent Champions receive specialist resources and training to give them the knowledge, confidence and skills to share vital messages with other parents. For parents of children with SEND, barriers to services and support often relate to trust and inclusion, as well as information. As parents themselves, some of whom may also have experience of the local services and of caring for a child with SEND, Parent Champions volunteers are ideally suited to build on their experiences and local expertise to engage with families from their own communities in an informal, relatable and meaningful way.
What are the benefits of Parent Champions for SEND?
Raises awareness and engagement of local services among families of children with SEND
Increases understanding of SEND local offer, what is available, and where they can find help
Captures valuable feedback from local families about their priorities, issues and preferred solutions
Able to target certain groups for engagement. Parent Champions have been successful in supporting families from black and minority ethnic groups and families more likely to miss out on services
Helps local authorities meet their legislative duties to understand and meet the needs of families with disabled children
Helps parents get support with identifying their children’s needs at an early age, when they can be supported most effectively in the long term. This can prevent needs from becoming harder to address later on
Builds volunteers’ confidence and transferable skills
Creates a pathway to training and employment
Provides opportunities for volunteers to give back to their communities
More information
For more information about Parent Champions for SEND, please contact ellie.grace@coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk.
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