I have two daughters with additional needs and have been involved directly with the SEND system since 1998. I have been involved with OxPCF since the send reforms in 2014, where I have navigated Statements and EHCP’s, mainstream and special.
 

I am a passionate advocate for send families and believe strongly in the importance of empowering Parent Carers and working co productively with the Local Authority. Providing opportunities for young people and families to share their experiences of living with a special educational need or disability is a powerful tool that can be used to improve services.

I have an autistic son who also lives with severe anxiety and OCD.  

We have lived in Oxfordshire for over 20 years and have 15 years experience of journeying through the SEND system.

I have worked in the voluntary sector for over 25 years and have been involved as a public contributor in health and social care research for over 15 years.  I think it is really important that people are actively involved in their community and that they help develop and design the services they use so those services have a better chance of making a real difference.

I am Mum to two young daughters and have been directly involved with the SEND system in Oxfordshire since 2019 after completing the process of applying for an EHCP. My children attend mainstream school.

I am committed to improving experiences and outcomes for children with SEND and believe that early intervention and specific need-focused support is key to providing our children and young people with the best possible chance to succeed. I have been part of the Steering Group since 2021. I am currently completing Advanced SEND Law training with IPSEA, and working with the Forum’s partner organisation The Oxfordshire Family Support Network to improve Oxfordshire’s Local Offer.

My area of knowledge/interest is early years and primary aged children with autism and/or ADHD, masking and non-‘typical’ presentation in women and girls including late diagnosed adults.

I am the mother of two children, both of whom have special educational needs and attend a specialist school, and I have been involved in the SEND world as a parent since 2019. I work in the health service and have lots of experience in joint working, consultation, user involvement and strategy development.

I am also the Chair of a small mental health charity that provides counselling for children and young people. As someone who has spent the last few years trying to navigate the SEND system and advocating for my children, I am passionate about accepting children for who they are, and meeting their needs as they stand, rather than trying to change children to fit the system. I am thrilled to be part of the Parent Carer Forum and can hopefully use my experiences and knowledge to support others.

SEND has been my world for almost 20 years now. I have a daughter who has an extremely rare chromosome disorder and very complex health, coupled with severe physical and learning disabilities. She’s our ray of sunshine.

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I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of OXPCF, to strengthen parent carer involvement across the County. As a team we can make sure that budgets are spent effectively and that services provided by the Local Authority and Health best meet the

needs of children with SEND and their families.

I currently represent OXPCF on the Short Breaks Project Board.

I am pleased to have joined as one of the newest members of the steering group to work alongside truly amazing advocates for families in Oxfordshire. I am a mum to two teenage children; a son and a daughter who has special educational needs. I have previously worked as a Teaching Assistant in primary, secondary and specialist schools. I joined the forum in November 2022.

My passion is supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and their parents and carers. I have lived experience of mental health difficulties, my own and as a parent carer for my daughter. I have studied Psychology as a second degree, counselling and trained as a Trauma Recovery Therapeutic Mentor. I am also the founder of a small mental health charity that provides local support for families who are struggling with school attendance and daily life. Through my study alongside my work in schools I base my practice on understanding everyone through a trauma informed lens, the power of kindness and the belief that ‘Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all’ (Aristotle).