Partnership with Parents: Support for parents and young people in schools
Gill Montgomery – Development Manager
Minutes:
Gill Montgomery spoke of the service provided by Partnership with Parents.
Partnership with Parents offers a service for all parents with children requiring extra educational and/or learning needs. The service is impartial and offers a confidential service for all parents. A large resource base is located in Maidstone offering resources for hire, loan and photocopy.
Partnership with Parents works closely with schools, the LEA and voluntary sector agencies to assist the communication between all parties.
An important role of Partnership with Parents is to undertake surveys to improve the provision for parents and children.
A mediation service is also available for children (not parents).
Partnership with Parents also work closely with the Extended Community Schools Service and Local Trusts.
Partnership with Parents recently underwent a Joint Area Review (formal inspection process), and the initial outcome is very good.
Theresa Langworthy asked about the work with Family Liaison Officers (FLO’s).
Gill Montgomery indicated that they work in partnership where FLO’s exist. Where they are not in place then SENCO/AENCO’s are the link role.
Cllr Harrison spoke of the Children’s Trust like arrangements coming into existence. There is no democratic involvement in these trusts for locally elected Members and Councillors. This represents a missed opportunity as elected councillors are key partners and community leaders.
Gill indicated that this was not a function of Partnership with Parents.
The issue of “Looked After Children” (LAC’s) was discussed with comments on the displacement of local children when LAC are placed into Swale from out of County Authorities.
This is a complex issue and is not something Gill was able to comment on.
Cllr Jerry Lewin asked about referrals to the team and what was the biggest need being serviced?
Gill indicated that Partnership with Parents was an offered service, not a statutory service. That the biggest need was to give parents the support to be empowered and support children to get the best educational outcome. Partnership with Parents is not an advocate service, but does offer informed choices and supports parents in achieving choice.