Welcome to Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum

Championing the voice of parent carers

Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum (NPCF) is a parent carer-led registered charity and independent voice for families who have children with special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND), living or accessing services in Nottinghamshire.

(Nottingham City is a separate unitary area from the County and manages its own affairs, though it is surrounded by 4 Nottinghamshire districts).

The charity is committed to making sure that parent carers’ views and experiences are heard, so that they influence and shape the support and services they receive, and create better outcomes for all children, young people with SEND and their families. As we are all parents and carers this also gives us a particular empathy and understanding of the challenges that families of children with SEND face.

Our vision is for every child and young person in Nottinghamshire with a disability or additional need to reach their full potential.

We serve as a collective voice for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND, sharing their experiences, challenges and ideas, to inform service providers in the Local Authority, education, health, and social care. As equal partners, we offer constructive feedback, acting as a critical friend while remaining fully independent. 

We champion parent engagement and the value of hearing directly from families and working together with them. The forum wants as many parent carers as possible to become involved in the way that is possible for them. The forum consistently encourages parent carers to get involved whenever possible, whether by participating in surveys or joining focus groups with local SEND providers. These opportunities allow families to share their experiences directly with those who can make a difference.

This is rooted in the knowledge that children and young people, along with their parents, are the most qualified to determine the services they need in their local area.

Who can join?

Any parent carer of a child or young person aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities (SEND) who lives or receives services in Nottinghamshire can join NPCF. It is open to all parents of children/ young people with SEND and is not limited to those whose children have a formal diagnosis.