Plymouth Parent and Family forum

The Plymouth parent and family forum was established in November 2005 and meets on a two monthly basis. Meetings are held around the city alternating between day and evening meetings. Notes from previous meetings can be downloaded from the documents table below.

The next meeting of the forum will be in September 2008. For more information contact Plymouth Parent Partnership on 01752 258933.

The aims of the forum:

• Facilitate effective information exchange between parents, service providers and commissioners to ensure that an effective parent voice is heard within Plymouth
• Provide an opportunity to shape existing services according to their needs
• Provide effective consultation partnerships and ensuring good practice
• Promote the core principles of the Plymouth parent and family forum

Facts about the forum :

• The forum is facilitated by the Plymouth Parent Partnership
• A working group consisting of 8 members decides what will be discussed at the meetings
• The meetings are usually every 2 months
• It is possible for up to 100 persons to be at the forum (maximum so far 82).

Who attends the forum:

• Service providers and commissioners from health, education, social care
• Parent representatives from parent groups
• Parent partners
• Parent support advisors
  
• Family workers from excellence cluster schools
• Children centres parent forum representatives
• Representatives from minority groups
• Other agencies working with parents

What is usually on the agenda?

• Welcome and introduction
• New groups to the forum - welcome to new groups that are attending for the first time with a brief description of there parent representation
• What has happened since the last meeting of the forum - this is normally parents respond to what they have been involved with on behalf of the forum
• What parents want from service providers - this is an opportunity for parent representatives to ask direct questions to service providers
• Tea and coffee (opportunity to network)
• What service providers want - this is where service providers may ask for parental support in various pieces of work that is being undertaken
• Presentation as requested from parents at previous meetings

Groups within the Local Authority that have parental representation

The Plymouth Parent and Family forum is the recognised body to gain parent representation for Plymouth Local Authority committees and groups. Parents that sit on these committees report back to the forum. Information is then passed to other Parent representatives who in turn report back to their parent group. Feed back is often sort and passed back to the various committees and and groups.. At present parent representatives sit on the following committees

• Children's and Young Peoples Trust Board (2 parents)
• Children and Young Peoples scrutiny panel (1 parent)
• Schools Admissions Forum (2 parents 1 primary and 1 secondary)
• Plymouth Parent and Family Support Strategy Commissioning group (2 parents)
• Standards Advisory Group for Education (SAGE) (1 parent)
• Early Years Strategy group (2 parents)
• Integrated disability strategy parents reference group (7 parents)

Documents
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	Plymouth Parent & Family Forum (PDF - 22 KB) - full meeting notes from the meeting of 18 September 2008.
	Plymouth Parent & Family Forum (pdf - 29 KB) - full meeting notes from the meeting of 22 May 2008.
	Plymouth Parent and Family Forum ( - 37 KB) - full meeting notes from the meeting of 27 March 2008.
	Plymouth Parent and Family Forum ( - 23 KB) - full meeting notes from the meeting of 30 January 2008.
	Plymouth Parent and Family Forum ( - 32 KB) - full meeting notes from the meeting of 22 November 2007.
	Plymouth Parent and Family Strategy 2007 ( - 31 KB) - underlying principles which provide a minimum standard of quality to be expected.
	Plymouth foster carers survey ( - 235 KB) - a survey of foster carers views in Plymouth.
	Plymouth parent and family forum ( - 47 KB) - 25 September 2007 - full notes of the parent and family forum.
	Plymouth parent and family forum ( - 40 KB) - 6 June 2007 - full meeting notes from the meeting of 6 June 2007.
	Plymouth parent and family forum ( - 29 KB) - 1 March 2007 - full meeting notes from the meeting of 1 March 2007.
	Plymouth parent and family forum ( - 38 KB) - 21 November 2006 - full meeting notes from the meeting of 21 November 2006.
	Plymouth parent and family forum ( - 33 KB) - 12 July 2006 - full meeting notes from the meeting of 12 July 2006.
	Plymouth parent and family forum ( - 27 KB) - 29 May 2006 - full meeting notes from the meeting of 29 May 2006.
	Plymouth parent and family forum ( - 26 KB) - 6 February 2006 - full meeting notes from the meeting of 6 February 2006.
	Plymouth parent and family forum ( - 27 KB) - 29 November 2005 - full meeting notes from the meeting of 29 November 2005.