Kent Meet the Parents

On 8 January 2008, 20 parents and carers drawn from across Kent came together to meet Graham Badman, Managing Director of Children Families and Education at Kent County Council, and the Chair of the Kent Children's Trust. The purpose of the event was to provide an opportunity for parents to talk about the issues that affect their lives and the lives of their children.

Kent Meet the Parents event provided a unique opportunity for parents to share their views with one of the senior decision makers in the County, and also gave Mr Badman the chance to discuss the vision and priorities for the future.

Following the model developed by the Family and Parenting Institute the meeting agenda was driven by the parents who attended. Debate centred on the themes that they raised, which included Health and Wellbeing, Parental Engagement in Schools and Specialist Provision to support those with additional educational needs. Specific questions were raised with regard to the process of statementing, funding for and development of Children's Centres and resources for supporting children with additional educational needs.

The discussion was lively and engaging and parents shared many of their ideas by writing down the questions that were still remaining and making suggestions for improvements in the future. These included practical steps to engaging parents such as asking parents themselves to write information sheets and booklets in language that other parents will understand. Another parent asked that training be made available through Children's Centres and Schools to enable parents to form their own networks and support each other.

Parents attended the event with support workers who provide help, advice and guidance to them in the area where they live or where their children attend school. These workers ranged from Parent Support Advisers and Family Liaison Officers linked to schools in the County to Children's Centres Workers and officers from Partnership with Parents and the Parents Consortium.

The session closed with Mr Badman thanking parents for their honesty and time, expressing his desire to continue the dialogue that the session had started. A sentiment shared by the parents who asked for other opportunities to talk frankly with decision-makers to be made available to them.

All of these ideas have been taken back to the Extended Services Team within Kent County Council who are pulling together the reports and action plans to take this forward. As part of the follow up Parents who attended will be sent details of the local Parent Fora that are being developed in each area.

For more information about the event or the development of the Parent Support Strategy in Kent please contact Diane Trollope, Extended Services Policy Development Manager by emailing diane.trollope@kent.gov.uk  Icon: Email address

Last updated: 11th September 2008 at 07:09:13