Children’s Opportunity Group Lowndes STREET 01204 848722

1. Children’s Opportunity Group Lowndes STREET 01204 848722

2. Principal Parent Partnership Officer : Nicola McGuinness Out reach worker : Marian Taylor Michael Hirst Parent Partnership Officer : Assistant Parent Partnership Officer : Gary Harrison Administrator : Annette Dodd 3 Independent Parental Support workers

3. What Do We Do

4. WHAT DO WE DO Parent Partnership service provides support and advice to parents whose children have special educational needs We provide accurate and neutral information on the full range of options available to parents WE ARE IMPARTIAL We help Parents make informed decisions about their children's education Where Parents want an independent parental supporter we can provide one

5. Special Educational Needs What Does It Mean The term ‘special educational needs’ has a legal definition. Children with Special Educational Needs all have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn. These children may need extra or different help from that given to other children of the same age Children with SEN may need extra help because of a range of needs, such as thinking and understanding, physical or sensory difficulties emotional and behavioural difficulties or difficulties with speech and language or how they relate to and behave with other people Many children will have SEN of some kind during their time in education. School and other organisations can help children get over there barriers quickly and easily. Some however will need extra help for some or all of their time in education

6. Parents and Partnership Matter ! “Children’s trust ... Should be about partnership, local authorities championing children and commissioning children and commissioning accordingly” “Councils will have to offer a comprehensive support services for parent .... giving parents the information, guidance and practical support they need.” Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, 6th September 2005

7. And Bolton Parent Partnership Service are already playing a key role Moving forward together: “partnership with parents plays a key role in promoting a culture of cooperation between parents, schools, including early education settings, LA s and others. This is important in enabling children and young people with SEN to achieve to their potential.” Paragraph 2.1 of chapter 2 of the SEN Code of Practice

8. Bolton Parent Partnerships have made a major contribution in supporting Parents “These partnerships can be challenging, requiring positive attitudes by all, and in some circumstances additional support and encouragement for parents” Paragraph 2.3 of chapter 2 in the SEN Code of practice • PPS practice guide (2004) • Regional standards for PPS – SW RP • Benchmarking PPS • Staff competences – with NAEIAC

9. National Benchmarking of Parent Partnership Services • 2004 report an excellent overview of how PPS are organised • High % returns in most regions(Bolton PPS take part in national benchmarking) • A wide range of practices • ... But many services “going the extra mile” (Bolton PPS offer parent courses, individual student mentoring) • 97% providing some services to families of excluded pupils, and more than half when ever this is requested( in Bolton we provide a service to support families of pupils who have been excluded) • Feeding into the work of Inclusion Statutory Assessment Ofices

10. Partnership with parents is key: • Parents working with schools • Parents contributing to local policy development • Parents involved in decisions about your service • Raising questions for your school or service • How are you talking to parents about SEN or Behaviour difficulties • Are they talking to you about SEN or Behaviour difficulties • Could Bolton Parent Partnership Help? Ask us the questions, if we can’t help, we will try to find you someone who can 01204848722