During September and October DiAS ran a short survey for parent carers, asking them what kind of training they would like.

More than 120 took part and here are the main results.

What do you want information or training sessions to do? 

This question was about finding out the main purpose of going to training. The top three answers were:

• Help me find my way around the SEND system and understand what I need to do during important processes and decisions.
• Give me facts and improve my knowledge.
• Help me develop my skills – such as how to talk to professionals about your child’s needs or how to learn about your child’s SEN and find the right help.

What topics would you most like to have information or training sessions about?

There were 16 options on offer for this question, from post 16 support through to social care and exclusion. These three were the winners.

• Mental health issues, including anxiety, absence and school avoidance.
• Support for specific conditions or special educational needs – such as ADHD, autism, trauma or dyslexia.
• EHC plans and reviews.

Followed closely by

• The support that my child can get in school.
• Support for my young person when they’ve left school.

The remaining questions were about the format of any training and when and where it should be held. Parent carer preferences were for

• Interactive ‘live’ online information sessions and face to face workshops with a small groups of people.
• Half a day long sessions or shorter one hour sessions.
• Sessions to be held during term time in school hours, though a significant minority also asked for sessions in term time in the evening.
  
  

When we asked whether sessions should be for parent carers or parent carers and professionals, respondents replies were equally split. Around a third wanted parent only, a third were happy for professionals to come along and a third weren’t sure.

We also gave respondents the option to comment on any other aspect of training for themselves, children and young people and professionals. There were several requests for virtual sessions to be recorded so people can watch at a time to suit them and requests for school staff to have better training about the support that can be given in school.  Communication between school and home and the challenges of getting the right support at the right time were also common themes.            

You can see and download a summary of the results and if you have further question or comments, contact Sarah Smith, DiAS Information and Training Officer.