This month, representatives from the Worcestershire Parent Carer Forum (WPCF) met with local MP Chris Bloore to discuss the current state of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services across the county.
Steering group members Hazel, Bernadette, Jackie, and Nicole were invited by the Redditch MP to provide an update on WPCF’s work and to share the voices and lived experiences of parent carers throughout Worcestershire.
With over 300 active casework files involving Worcestershire families of children and young people with SEND, Mr. Bloore reached out to the forum to gain a clearer understanding of the challenges they face in accessing education, health, and social care services.
During the meeting, he posed a number of in-depth questions on key local concerns, including: lengthy autism and ADHD waiting lists, access to CAMHS for neurodivergent children, the increasing number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) without school placements, and early years provision for children with SEND.
The WPCF steering group drew upon extensive feedback from its membership base to represent the broader experiences of Worcestershire parent carers. In response, Mr. Bloore expressed his gratitude to the forum for their openness and insight and proposed establishing regular meetings to continue these vital discussions.
