Exeter
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the news and events page for the Exeter area.
*NEW* Consultation Opportunity
Would you like to help improve how schools deal with parents’ complaints?
On 24 September, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families announced an imminent consultation on a new way of handling parents’ complaints to their child’s school. The consultation will run for eight weeks, closing on 21 November. The Children’s Plan committed the Government to look at ways of improving the current arrangements for parents’ complaints. The consultation invites comments on handling parents’ complaints to their child’s school affecting their child, including those which concern bullying. The Department for Children, Schools and Families is asking for views on ways to improve the handling of complaints at school level, the place of mediation services to resolve disagreements early on and possible new arrangements to consider complaints that cannot be resolved at school level.
They wish to hear the views of as many people and organisations as possible, including parents, so why not take 5 minutes to make your views known?
Launch Date: 26th September 2008 Closing Date: 21st November 2008
Click here to take part (opens in new window).
Forthcoming meetings
Our next meeting will be Tuesday 18th November, at the Cowick Barton, Cowick Lane, Exeter from 10.30 - 12.30. This meeting is going to focus on education and we will be joined by Debbie Wheeler from the Parent Partnership Service who will be able to answer questions and offer advice to families.
You can view the agenda for the meeting here
If you have an issue that you would like to talk about at the meeting please let me know and I will add it to the list of items for discussion. Alternatively just come along and raise it at the meeting.
We will also be looking at some of the training opportunities that are available for parents and carers and asking what parents would find the most helpful, so if you feel you might benefit from some form of training to help you in your role as a parent/carer please let me know.
On Monday 8th December we will be holding a coffee and mince pie drop-in. If you fancy a break from your Christmas preparations do join us. It will be held at the Exeter CVS in King William Street from 10.30 - 12.30.
We are also planning to go for lunch at the Imperial, in New North Road on Friday 12th December. We will be there from 11.00. If you would like to join us please give me a ring so I can save you a chair.
It was suggested that some parents/carers would prefer to meet in an evening. As yet there is not sufficient support to make this idea viable, however, I will let you know should the situation change. If you would like to meet with other parents in the area to share ideas about improving the services for our children please let me know.
If anyone has any issues they wish to raise for discussion at future meetings please contact me.
Notes from local meetings
The notes from our local meetings can be viewed by clicking on the links below.
We have also held meetings over coffee or lunch for parents and carers who prefer to discuss their issues in less formal situation and plan to hold some more shortly. Please get in touch if you would like more information.
Events
Practical Strategies for Coping with Challenging Behaviour *UPDATE*
The conference held on 8th July was again extremely well attended. The day followed a similar format to the previous one with both speakers and smaller workshops.
The notes from the day are available below.
Challenging Behaviour Day - July 08
Notes from the May conference day are available below:
Challenging Behaviour Day - May 2008