03/06/2026
Here we are at the start of the final half‑term before the summer holidays, and it feels like the perfect moment to pause and reflect on just how much Derby SEND Voice has been involved in over the past few months.
Spring SEND Event – Museum of Making
We welcomed 29 local services and organisations, all connected to SEND in Derby City, who came together to listen, advise, signpost and support over 350 attendees. It was a fantastic day of information‑sharing, connection and fun.
Cuppa & Chat Sessions
We’ve now run several Cuppa & Chat sessions, offering a safe, understanding space for SEND parents and carers to meet others who “get it” without judgement. The shared experiences and peer support at these sessions are invaluable, sometimes simply knowing you’re not alone can make all the difference.
SEND Law Clinic – University of Derby
We’ve partnered with the University of Derby to offer a SEND Law Clinic, giving parents and carers FREE access to expert guidance on their rights and a detailed written report outlining next steps, all free of charge and impartial.
Wellbeing Opportunities
We have begun introducing wellbeing activities too, including a spring wreath‑making session that was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. Watch this space for some exciting news!
SEND Reforms – Parent Carer Voice
We also created multiple opportunities for parent carers to take part in surveys and workshops around the new SEND reforms. Their lived‑experience insights were then shared directly with the Local Authority to ensure the voices of those most affected were heard.
Representation & Strategic Influence
Derby SEND Voice continues to represent parent carers at
the SEND & Inclusion Strategy and Joint Commissioning Delivery Group,
the Derby City Local Area Inclusion Partnership Board,
the Home to School Travel Working Group,
the ND Transformation Board,
the EBSNA working group
the Mental health and neurodiversity pathway working group,
and the PINS project, School coffee mornings, SEND events and marketplace sessions.
And believe it or not — this still isn’t everything!
We have also organised a SEND officers workshop where parent carers had the opportunity to learn what a SEND officer does and ask questions, ran an EHCP information workshop, and organised the opportunity for parent carers to meet with the Derby SEND Advice Line (Derby SAL) and other services.
A Huge Thank You
None of this would be possible without our incredible Co‑Chairs, who volunteer their time while also being SEND parents and working themselves. They are truly remarkable.
But We Need More Volunteers
Right now, three people are delivering almost all of this work, Imagine what we could achieve with three more!
Finally, a big thank you to everyone who works with us, and who on social media follows, likes and shares our posts, your support means the world, and genuinely helps us reach more families.
