Bedfordshire Parent Partnership Service

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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service
Ann Baily Westfield Middle School Chester Road,
Bedford MK40 4HW Tel [phone] Fax 01234
316352 Email parent.partnership_at_bedscc.gov.uk We
b www.bedfordshireparentpartnership.co.uk
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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service

• We cover the whole County
• Parent Partnership Officers 01234 316353
• Adele Norman (Mon-Thurs, term-time)
• Ruth Kerr (Wed Fri, term-time)
• Administrator 01234 316351
• Elaine Taylor (Full-time)

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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service

• School Transfer Advisor Jo Maule
• (All year Tues-Thurs)
• Independent Parental Supporters (IPSs)
• Volunteers trained by the PPS to support
• parents at meeting or help with paperwork

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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service

• Parent Partnership Services were established in
  1994 to promote greater educational opportunities
  for children with special educational need
• (Education Acts 1993 and 1996)
• They have been statutory since the Code of
  Practice 2001
• We operate at arms length from the council, have
  our own budget and offer free, confidential and
  impartial advice

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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service

• What do we do?
• Run a confidential help line
• Work with parents
• Provide information, advice and support
• Offer home visits
• Offer support at meetings
• Offer help with paperwork
• Pass on details of Voluntary Organisations

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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service

• We
• Advise parents during statutory assessment and
  invite them to meet us (schools are also invited)
  
• Advise parents about annual review meetings
• Enable access to support for SENDIST (SEN and
  Disability Tribunal) processes and hearings
• Signpost parents to, and liaise with, other
  professionals and organisations

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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service

• We also
• Interpret information about SEN published by
  schools, the LEA and others
• Promote consultation rather than confrontation
• Train volunteers (Independent Parental
  Supporters) to support parents at meetings

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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service
We publish 11 booklets for parents

• 1. Help if your child has SEN
• School Action and School Action Plus
• Statutory Assessment
• Note in Lieu and Final Statement
• Annual Review and Transition Plan

• 6. If you are not happy with the provision for
  your child
• Early Years
• Looking at schools
• Getting the best out of meetings
• Understanding the jargon
• Individual Education Plans (IEPs)

Available in Bengali, Urdu and Polish
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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service

• Admission fact sheets
• 20. Helping your child prepare for their first
  school
• 21. Applying for places at Lower, Middle and
  Upper school places in Bedfordshire
• 22. Starting and applying for schools if your
  child is
• supported on Action or Action Plus
• 23. Applying for schools in Bedfordshire if your
  child has a statement of special educational need

Available in Polish
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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service
WE DO NOT

• Advocate
• Take sides
• Negotiate
• Give legal advice
• Counsel families

• Accept referrals (we offer an impartial and
  confidential service to parents who request our
  involvement)

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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service
Local Parent Forums to raise and discuss
general issues of concern around SEN (not
individual cases) 3 in the first half of each
term Bedford, Sandy and Leighton Buzzard 12
parents, 4 from each forum, meet with officers
from County Hall to discuss parents concerns in
the second half of the term PPS follows up
concerns and keeps parents informed We send you
notes and ask if you will help publicise the
forums
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BedfordshireParent Partnership Service
Information for schools and parents Look out
for Our Information Packs, they are sent
annually to SENCos and to the Chair/SEN
Governor (additional individual booklets
available hard copy or from website) Termly
newsletters Posters and flyers about the Local
Parent Forums
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