PARENT PARTNERSHIP OFFICERS

Parent Partnership Officers are employed by the North Yorkshire Children and Young People’s Services Directorate to help with the statutory educational assessment process.  They are part of the department dealing with pupil and parent services.  Parent partnership officers work alongside the SEN Officers, Educational Psychologists, Support Teachers and Education Social Workers. 

It is recognised that the relationship between parents, schools and agencies such as Health and Social Services is very important in ensuring that children’s needs are met.  It is particularly vital that everybody works together through this process so that children are supported and able to make progress in education.

Schools work in partnership with parents.  When a child has special educational needs it is especially important that parents are encouraged and, when necessary, helped to contribute information and views to the assessment.  Parental advice is invaluable.  Parents have information that no one else has and which will offer invaluable insights into their child’s functioning.

Parent Partnership Officers offer support to parents in many different ways.  Parents choose what sort or help they would like.  Every child’s special educational needs are different as are the ways in which parents need support.

Parent Partnership Officers can:

• Listen to parents’ concerns and hopes
• Explain the statutory assessment process
• Help parents say what they think their child’s needs are
• Help a child to say what s/he thinks
• Try to sort out any difficulties or misunderstandings
• Liaise with school
• Accompany parents to meetings related to the educational assessment
• Take parents and their children to visit any schools or units which may be suggested as appropriate
• Offer parents the chance to meet other parents and to learn about special educational needs legislation
• Find parents an Independent Parental Supporter” (IPS) – see paragraph below – who can offer you independent advice and support
• Put parents in touch with a voluntary organisation or Parents Support Group

The key task of the Parent Partnership Officer is to support the parent and child through the educational assessment process.  Close liaison with schools and other professionals help everyone make informed decisions as to a child’s Special Educational Needs.

As parents, you should be fully informed and involved and your views taken into consideration at each stage of the assessment, statementing and reviewing processes.  If you disagree with the Authority about the Statement and the difficulties cannot be resolved by discussion, there is an appeals system.  If you wish to appeal, or need help in understanding any part of the process or in presenting your views, you may feel that you would benefit from talking to your Parent Partnership Officer. 
 

Your local Parent Partnership Officers are: