Improving Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services for children, young people and families across Derbyshire
News Update - September 2026 (Part 2)
Local area partnership welcomes inspectors
This week, we have welcomed inspectors from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to Derbyshire for a joint monitoring visit.
They joined us for three days to look at the work of the local area partnership and evaluate arrangements for all children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The partnership is made up of those in education, health and care who are responsible for the strategic planning, commissioning, management, delivery and evaluation of arrangements for children and young people with SEND.
The focus of visit aimed to understand the distance travelled since the Derbyshire SEND Inspection in 2024 and paid particular attention to what we have achieved in our Priority Impact Areas.
We will of course keep you informed as we go through this process.
Derbyshire SEND & Inclusion Strategy published
Derbyshire's new SEND & Inclusion Strategy has now been published
The strategy has been developed through extensive co-production, bringing together the voices, experiences and ideas of children and young people with SEND, their families and carers, schools, settings, partner organisations and practitioners from across Derbyshire.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to contribute through surveys, workshops, meetings and discussions.
The strategy sets out our shared vision and priorities for improving outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), while promoting inclusion across all areas of education, health and care.
It provides a clear framework for how we will work together over the coming years to strengthen services, improve experiences and ensure children and young people can achieve their full potential.
The completion of the strategy marks an important milestone, but it is only the beginning. We remain committed to continuing to work alongside families, children and young people, and our partners as we move into the delivery phase and turn our shared ambitions into action.
We look forward to sharing more information about the strategy and the progress we make together in future newsletters.
To view the strategy, please visit: Derbyshire Local Offer - Derbyshire SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2026 - 2031
Extra £1m to deliver local support for Derbyshire families
Derbyshire County Council is to invest an additional £1m to increase the number of people available to assess and review the needs of children and young people with SEND.
Cabinet agreed the funding towards the cost of employing more staff to support families through the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process.
It follows changes which will see staff working to support families in local areas, helping them to build stronger relationships with families, schools and partners so they have a better understanding of the community’s needs.
The new approach is expected to provide:
- More consistent support with the Education, Health and Care Plan process through stronger local relationships
- Better co-ordination between SEND officers, educational psychologists, inclusion services and other professionals.
- A greater understanding of the needs of local communities
The changes will increase staffing levels in each locality reflecting demand so the council can respond to increasing numbers of requests for EHCPs.
In July, there were more than 10,000 Education, Health and Care Plans in Derbyshire, compared with 3,626 in 2022.
Preparations are already under way to relocate local teams, provide additional staff training and transfer cases where needed to ensure a smooth transition for families.
Listening, learning and acting together
At Derbyshire Parent Carer Voice (DPCV), everything we do starts with listening to parent carers.
Over the past year, families across Derbyshire have shared their experiences with us through surveys, consultations, workshops, drop-in sessions and conversations. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken the time to tell us about their journeys, successes, challenges and priorities.
What parent carers tell us shapes our work.
Many families have told us that they value opportunities to connect with others who understand their experiences, access practical information and advice, and speak directly with professionals who can help them navigate the SEND system. Our recent multi-agency drop-in sessions have highlighted just how important these opportunities are. Parent carers consistently told us they valued direct access to professionals, practical advice tailored to their child's needs, and a welcoming environment where they felt listened to, understood and reassured. Feedback also showed that families left feeling clearer about next steps, more confident in navigating SEND processes and, importantly, less alone in their experiences.
Parent carer quote: "It was so helpful to speak to professionals and other parents who understood what we were going through."
The success of these sessions has reinforced something we hear time and time again: parent carers value opportunities to talk, ask questions, share experiences and access support in a friendly and informal setting. We will therefore continue to offer drop-in sessions across Derbyshire throughout the coming year, enabling families to access information, support and connections closer to home.
In response to what parent carers have told us, we have developed an extensive programme of support for the coming academic year. Alongside our drop-in sessions, we will be delivering a wide range of workshops, information sessions and wellbeing opportunities covering topics such as emotional wellbeing, anxiety, emotional regulation, Emotion Coaching, ADHD, sensory needs, Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), SEND processes, transport, Preparing for Adulthood, PDA, family relationships and wellbeing. We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Derbyshire Educational Psychology Service and other valued organisations to deliver a range of sessions that respond directly to themes raised by parent carers. We will also be repeating several sessions that families found particularly helpful last year.
Alongside providing support and information, we remain committed to creating opportunities for parent carers to influence local services. Through surveys, consultations, strategic meetings and ongoing co-production, we continue to ensure that parent carer experiences help inform discussions and decision-making across education, health and social care.
As part of this commitment, we were pleased to meet with the new Director of Children's Services early in her appointment to share the experiences and priorities of Derbyshire parent carers and to begin building a positive working relationship. Ensuring that parent carer voices are heard at all levels of the local SEND system remains a key priority for Derbyshire Parent Carer Voice.
As we begin a new academic year, our commitment remains unchanged. We will continue to listen, to learn, and to act on what parent carers tell us. We will continue to provide opportunities for support, information and connection, while working alongside partners to help shape and improve services for children and young people with SEND across Derbyshire.
Because parent carer feedback does not stop with a conversation. We listen. We reflect. We act.
Coming up this autumn
We've developed our programme of support in response to themes raised by parent carers, including emotional wellbeing, practical SEND information, family relationships and opportunities to connect with others who understand.
September
- PEGS - 15 September, 10am
- Wellbeing Session - 16 September, 12 noon
- PDA Society Workshop - 17 September, 10am
- Multi-Agency Parent Carer Drop-In Session - 18 September
- PDA Society Workshop - 24 September, 10am
October
- Meditation Session - 21 October, 12 noon
November
- Wills and Trusts - 3 November, 10am
- DIASS Information Session - 5 November, 10am
- Multi-Agency Parent Carer Drop-In Session - 6 November
- Behaviour as Communication - 10 November, 10am
- Wellbeing Session - 12 November, 12 noon
For further information about these and many other upcoming events, workshops and support opportunities, please visit the Derbyshire Parent Carer Voice website or follow us on social media.