Our aim is to work co-productively with the Local Authority to share the parent carer voice. Please find below some of the current workstreams Leeds Parent Carer Forum are involved with at a strategic level, along with a brief description of what they do and the latest updates we have from our work with them.
Please click on a category below to read more.
The purpose of the SEND employment forum is to develop a strategic approach and action plan aimed at improving paid employment outcomes for young people with SEND by bringing together all key stakeholders who can develop and deliver pathways to sustainable employment and promote collaborative working.
The Leeds area SEND and Alternative Provision Board (previously the SEND Partnership Board) includes partners across education, health, and social care services, as well as representatives for children and young people and their families. The Board holds services to account for delivering the actions in the SEND and Inclusion Strategy. It sets out ‘indicators’ of success for this strategy, covering improved health, wellbeing and participation outcomes for children and young people in Leeds.
Leeds City Council has approved plans that will effectively remove home to school transport for all learners aged 16 – 19 with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities across the city from September 2025. We feel that this is targeting some of the most vulnerable members of society. Leeds City Council’s objective is that from 2025 parents and carers will be responsible for arranging their young person’s transport themselves and that transport will only be provided via Leeds City Council transport services in “exceptional circumstances”.
We are working with the Council to feedback the voices of parent carers and explain the massive impacts these plans will have. We are in the process of arranging a meeting with Councillor Hayden who is a key member of the decision making process.
The purpose of the Scrutiny Board is to focus on services that affect the lives of children and families across the city, and to monitor progress towards becoming a child-friendly city and putting children first. The Parent Carer Forum has a representative on this board. They bring parents’ and carers’ perspectives to discussions and, where applicable, raise common issues experienced by our members and support group network to the attention of the board.
Here is the link to the video recording of the most recent meeting: Children and Families Scrutiny Board Meeting 25 November 2025
You can find full details of publicly available agenda and minutes for this board via this link: Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) Leeds City Council
We are working closely with Sally Townend who is the Designated Clinical Officer for Leeds ICB.
The purpose of this working group is to discuss issues and challenges raised by children and young people in Leeds and to see how things can be improved.
VIT group case studies July 2025 – PRINTABLE VERSION
We are working with Leeds Educational Psychologists to deliver workshops that support families in Leeds who have children who are currently unable to access school.