Cuppa and Chat Parent Engagement Discussion
This month’s ‘Cuppa and Chat’ event took place on 8 November at Jubilee Gardens provided an open forum for parents, Tameside’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) staff, and Local Area Partnership representatives to discuss parents’ experiences and concerns regarding SEND services. The event allowed for meaningful conversations and highlighted several key areas needing attention. Whilst the meeting couldn’t address all parental concerns within the discussion, it is hoped parents feel listened to and can see problems and worries are being addressed. In the future considerations will be made on how to act and improve some of the other issues raised.
Key themes discussed were:
Communication Challenges
Lack of Updates on Staffing Changes: One of the primary concerns was that parents needed to be made aware when staff had left as it’s leading to unexpected communication issues. Parents often discovered these changes only when emails bounced back, causing confusion and delays in support.
Awareness of services and the Local Offer: Parents expressed that many were unaware of the local offer and available services, emphasising the need for better outreach and clarity on what is accessible to them.
One-page profiles: Parents suggested that being able to put a face to a name for service providers could be a “quick win”. Tameside’s Education Psychology Service’s use of one-page profiles was highlighted as a successful strategy, and expanding this approach to other services was recommended to enhance connection and trust.
Improved information channels: To improve transparency and response times, suggestions were made for clearer feedback processes and ensuring complaints reach the right channels.
Timeliness and Diagnosis Timeframes
Delays in diagnosis: Parents highlighted prolonged timeframes for obtaining diagnoses (e.g. ADHD/ASC), which added stress and hindered timely access to necessary support.
School gatekeeping: There were concerns about schools being perceived as the “gatekeepers” to diagnoses and the necessity of their involvement for progress, leading to difficulties for parents navigating the system.
Service Transitions and Continuity of Care
Gaps between services: Parents raised issues regarding transitioning from one service to another, describing situations where their children went unseen for several months. This lack of continuity led to feelings of abandonment and reduced support. Staff leaving often left parents and children needing proper follow-up, contributing to significant gaps in care.
EHCP Concerns
Self-referral for EHCPs: Parents reported being advised by schools to self-refer for an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) as the only reliable way to secure support.
SEND transport and personal budgets: Challenges surrounding SEND transport and managing personal budgets were significant areas of concern, with parents needing help effectively utilising these resources.
Transition to Adulthood
Cliff edge transition: The transition from child to adult services was described as a “cliff edge”, with abrupt changes leaving parents and children without adequate preparation or continued support.
Parents felt that while these sessions were beneficial, they needed to be better advertised, with clear information on attendees and scheduled times that cater to various schedules. Additional advertising through social media, schools, and local organisations was proposed to broaden awareness and attendance.
The event at Jubilee Gardens emphasised key issues around communication, diagnostic timeframes, service transitions, and support systems. Feedback suggested that expanding awareness of services, improving communication tools (such as one-page profiles), and ensuring more efficient communication would enhance the overall effectiveness of SEND support.
The event was positively received, and it’s hoped that parents who attended appreciated the opportunity to voice their concerns while offering us practical solutions for future improvements.
| You said | We did, or are in the process of implementing |
|---|---|
| Timescales for diagnostic frameworks were too long and hindered support for young people. | In response, we’ve streamlined the referral process, expanded available appointment slots, collaborated closely with medical commissioners to explore further capacity increases, and ensured support is available while waiting through various organisations in Tameside. You can view these support options on the Local Offer. |
| Communication within the SEND team is an area that needs a lot of development. | In response, we’re appointing a dedicated communications officer to manage calls promptly, review our email system for faster routing, improve our phone line for direct access to relevant staff, and increase our team to enhance communication with all stakeholders. We have also asked each of our teams to create a one-page profile of their service, which we will add to the Local Offer to help. |
| Messages around the Local Offer and other support, service messages are not always received by parents. | In response, we are appointing a dedicated SEND communications officer who will update the Local Offer and work to increase its visibility across Tameside. The officer will collaborate with parent support organisations to ensure our messages effectively reach more families. |
| More events like this at key points in the year and different geographical locations would be welcomed. | The team really enjoyed meeting parents and carers in the community, so have planned the following events that will be advertised throughout the year and hope to meet more of you at these events around Tameside.
There will be several people from the Local Area SEND partnership at each event.
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