On Friday 10th January 2025, the Tameside Umbrella Parent Carer Forum (TUPCF) held its highly successful official launch event at Dukinfield Town Hall.
Running from 11am to 7pm, the event saw over 110 attendees sign in throughout the day, including parents, carers, young people and representatives from various support services and organisations.
The atmosphere was positive and collaberative, with attendees expressing that it felt uplifitng to start the new year with such an important and engaging gathering. The day was filled with meaningful discussions, valuable networking and shared determination to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families in Tameside.
Event Highlights
Parent Panel and Professionals Disscusions:
- Attendees had the opportunity to engage in open discussions with professionals from SEND Local Area Partnership, including the Local Area SEND Partnership Chair.
- An inspiring highlight was a candid evening panel featuring a young man who shared his journey navigating the SEND system, offering valuable insights and feedback.
Valuable Feedback:
- Participants provided thoughtful comments and suggestions for service improvement, including EHCP processes, annual reviews, SEND support and transport arrangements.
- The ‘You Said, We Are Doing’ summary will be shared, highlighting actionable commitments to address attendees’ concerns.
Areas for Improvement
We also received constructive suggestions on how to enhance future events:
- One participant recommended a weekend event to accommodate those who may find weekday attendance challenging.
- Another highlighted the importance of a welcome presentation from TUPCF, which would set the tone for the day.
- Ensuring sufficient catering was noted, as some attendees missed out on refreshments.
Next Steps
We are already taking steps to address the feedback shared at the event. Updates will be shared throughtout the year as we work collaboratively to improve SEND services in Tameside.
Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed and made the launch event a success. Together we can contunue to build a stronger and more supportive community for children and young people with SEND and their families.
Stay Connected and Share Your Voice
We value the voice of parents, carers and young people and encourage you to stay involved.
Click here to become a member.
