Sunderland group looks at how best to care for children with special needs during lockdown

Families with school-age children of all kinds have been facing increased challenges as young people continue their learning from home.

Many parents are juggling working from home with looking after children and helping them with their studies, but families of children and young people with special education needs and disabilities face increased challenges.

Sunderland Parent Carer Forum was established in 2007 and is run by parent carers and grandparents.

The group aims to act as the ‘parent carer voice’ in how services are shaped and delivered in Sunderland – from highlighting good practice to challenging services and pushing for improvements.

The forum is part of a network of Parent Carer Forums with an aim of influencing services locally, regionally and nationally.

It also provides information and training to parent carers with several ‘parent reps’ attending meetings with various organisations in health, education and social care, as well as local charity groups.

This month, the forum launched an online survey to gather views on the potential impacts on carers as a result of Covid-19.

A statement on the survey website reads: “This survey is for parent carers, living in Sunderland, who have children and/or young people with SEND.

“We want to gather your views, struggles and any issues that you have faced during these difficult times.”

Questions cover a range of areas from school places, wellbeing and social workers to Covid-19 support and information.

A comment on the forum’s Facebook page goes on to say: “The survey is anonymous, and the results will be used to shape conversations with the local authority, Clinical Commissioning Group, and partners such as the Carers Centre so we can identify issues and start creating solutions.”

For more information or to take part in the survey, visit: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SPCF_CV19

If there is anything you would like to add, email the forum at [email protected] or visit sunderlandpcf.co.uk

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