Issues tracker

Issues raised by parents and carers

What is the Issues Tracker?

The Issues Tracker is a simple way to keep track of problems and challenges that families tell us about.

The Leeds Parent Carer Forum works with the Voice, Influence and Change Team at Leeds City Council. Together, they listen to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They look at issues in education, health, and care.

The issues tracker shows:

  • The issues raised by parents, carers, and support groups
  • What the council and health services say about these issues
  • What plans are in place to make things better

All issues are shared with the Voice and Influence Transparency Working Group. They are then shared with the Leeds SEND and AP Improvement Board.

The Leeds Parent Carer Forum also shares these issues in other meetings with the council and health services.

Download the issues tracker (word version).

Download the brought to a close issues (word version).

Case Studies

The Voice, Influence and Transparency Working Group works with the Leeds Parent Carer Forum to look at issues raised by families.

To show what has been done, case studies have been created. These case studies explain:

  • The issues raised
  • The actions taken

Download the case studies.
Printable version of the case studies.

If you have questions about the issues tracker or case studies please email LLO@leeds.gov.uk 

Parents and carers issues tracker

Transport: home to school transport

Parents / carers said...
  • At the start new school academic year families have fedback issues with home to school transport i.e. transport not turning up, families not knowing what is happening etc.
  • Families have said transport feels at arms length to provision / school. Families want to receive information about home to school transport as soon as they are offered a place at a school.
  • Families have said there is a lack of flexibility with transport if a child is on shorter or longer days, and is not available during transitions.
  • Not always a designated driver, can be a different driver everyday.
  • Doesn’t cater for split families, and only pick up from one address.
  • Families are not aware of the process for cancelling transport etc.
  • Need a user friendly transport application form.
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2022)
  • Parent Carer Support Group Network (2021)
  • SEND Event for parents and carers (09.07.24)
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (Dec 2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group

Supporting Passenger Transport and Children’s Transport to: 

  • Develop a ‘what to expect from home to school transport’ video for families (2026/27)
  • Develop transport passports for young people and transport (2026/27) 
  • Hosting an online home to school transport information session for parents and carers on Tuesday 16th June 2026, 12pm till 1pm. The session will be recorded and made available to families. Book your place here. 
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • Meetings with Passenger Transport and Children’s Transport to discuss parent / carer feedback and agree next steps and actions. 
  • Reviewed transport allocation letter. 
Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Passenger Transport and Children’s Transport.

  • New phone line for passenger transport, with an increased capacity to ensure families receive a response. 
  • Launched a user-friendly online transport application form. 
  • Developed FAQs with the Leeds Parent Carer Forum that will be sent out alongside transport confirmation emails, and are available on the LLO website. 

Transport: post 16

Parents / carers said...
  • Families who were refused door to door transport on application have been awarded door to door transport at 1st or 2nd appeal. 
  • There has been no communication about any review, so as far as we are aware the application and decision making processes haven't changed. This means that as people start applying very shortly for post 16 transport for this September coming we are going to have exactly the same situation; people being turned down as not enough information is able to be provided at application stage or that exceptional circumstances are just not being considered at 1st application? 
  • There are still no clear guidelines as to what constitutes exceptional circumstances - so how are these decisions being made at application/1st appeal? 
  • We genuinely believe that the way the policy is being applied is unlawful.
  • The Specialist Inclusion Learning centres and other specialist settings have also repeatedly raised their concerns about the impact of this policy on their learners, their families and their attendance.
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2025)
  • Parent Carer Support Groups (2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group

No update

Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • The issue was first raised by parents and carers early 2025, where they shared concerns with Cllr Hayden. 
  • Since then parents and carers have had a subsequent meeting with Cllr Hayden and Local Authority representatives. 
  • Save Our School Transport (parent and carer campaign group) took a deputation to the full council meeting asking for the policy to be revoked. It was agreed that this would be sent back to Cllr Hayden and Julie Longworth, Director for Children and Families, for discussion.
  • It has also been raised at the Children and Families scrutiny board at least two or three times. Subsequently it was agreed that the impact and implementation of the policy would be reviewed.
Service response and next steps

Update coming soon

Social care: transition to adulthood

Parents / carers said...
  • Families not understanding what support is available when a child transitions to adult social care. 
  • Transition support should be planned and actioned. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2023)
  • Parent Carer Support Group Network (2021)
  • SEND Event for parents and carers (09.07.24)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Transitions information on the Leeds Local Offer website, including criteria for transitions team, has been reviewed and updated. 
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum

No update

Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Transitions Team, Leeds City Council. 

  • The Transitions Team are continuing to engage with families and professionals through attendance at various events and delivering presentations to services to raise awareness.
  • In addition, Voice and Influence feedback forms have recently been introduced and are being shared with families to capture experiences and inform development.
  • The Transitions Team have identified there is a gap in support for ND transitions support, particularly for those with autism and FASD. This will be raised at the Leeds SEND and AP Improvement Board. 

 

Social Care: support for adoptive parents / carers

Parents / carers said...
  • The support for adoptive parents of children with SEND isn’t clear. 
  • Adopted young people have the same trauma etc. as children in care yet young people and families do not have the same access to support and services.
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2024)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • The recommendations report was shared with One Adoption West Yorkshire who will be providing a response (June 2026).
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • Leeds PCF have coproduced the support for adoptive parents recommendations report and will be following up on recommendations made.
Service response and next steps

Update coming soon

Social Care: families in crisis

Parents / carers said...
  • Families have fedback that they are having to ring the police on their own children due to violence and or mental health issues. 
  • When the police arrive they advise that it is not a police matter and a report will be submitted to social care. If this child is taken into custody, they are often realised with no further action.  
  • If a child is taken to A&E by the police, they are often discharged on the day as they are not  ‘severe’ enough to fully section under the mental health act, or there are no beds available.
  • Within days or even hours families often have to call the police again; as the violence has escalated or the child has gone missing. 
  • These children are not in the youth justice system, so are not picked up by them but in a vicious circle of police being called reports to social care etc 
  • Families have fedback that they are in crisis, however when they approach services for support they are not meeting their thresholds for crisis intervention. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (April 2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Meeting with West Yorkshire Police and Social Care to understand what support is available in Leeds and what happens when referrals are made to social care (January 2026).
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • Leeds PCF raised this at Voice, Influence & Transparency Working group as an area to be looked into. 
  • The Leeds PCF will be meeting with the Police and Social Care (March 2026).
Service response and next steps

Update coming soon

Social Care: accessing support and PA's

Parents / carers said...
  • Families have shared they don’t feel there is enough support from social care, and they are experiencing difficulties in recruiting PAs.  
Who the issues were raised by
  • Parent carer support group network (April 2025)
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (April 2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group

No update

Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • Leeds PCF do not currently have a contact within Social Care but will be raising this at the Leeds SEND and AP Improvement Board in March 2026.
Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Social Care and Commissioning, Leeds City Council

  • The service are aware that there are some significant issues with delays in the Direct Payment Hub allocating a worker to families to support with PA recruitment. 
  • Families are having to wait a significant time between having the package agreed at RADAR and being able to recruit.
  • The service are working with the Commissioning Team at Leeds City Council to address the issues families are facing (March 2026). 

Social Care: respite and short breaks

Parents / carers said...
  • Families have shared there is a lack of respite / short breaks to give parent carers a break from their caring responsibilities. 
  • Families feel social isolation due to not having time away from their caring responsibilities. 
  • Not enough activities / provision for younger aged children.   
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2025)
  • Parent carer support group (Dec 2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Working with Short Breaks Coordinator and Commissioning to update information on the Leeds Local Offer website (January 2026).
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • Leeds PCF reps met with the SEND Commissioning Team (2025), however due to review of these services and changes in staff, are not part of this work at this time.
Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Commissioning, Leeds City Council

  • A review of Short Breaks and Fun Activities was under taken in 2025. working with the Commissioning Team at Leeds City Council to address the issues families are facing (March 2026). 

Social Care: School holiday activities and groups for over 18 year olds

Parents / carers said...
  • No activities and opportunities available for over 18-year-olds during school holidays. 
  • Provision during school holidays stops when a young person turns 18 years old. Some over 18’s are still in full time education but unable to access adult services as they do not cater for holiday time only. 
  • Specialist 19+ educational provision is only provided during term-time, and there isn’t any provision or opportunities available over the school holidays. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Parent / carer (April 2026)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group

Update coming soon

Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum

Update coming soon

Service response and next steps

Updating coming soon

Health: waiting lists for diagnosis and support

Parents / carers said...
  • The waiting lists continue to be extremely long, and families are not getting the support they need. 
  • The delay in diagnosis can affect self-esteem and prevent children from learning. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2022)
  • Parent Carer Support Group Network (2021)
  • SEND Event for parents and carers (09.07.24)
  • Parent carer support groups (April 2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • A member of the Voice, Influence and Transparency Working Group meets with the Leeds Parent Carer Forum and Health colleagues on a monthly basis to work on the health issues raised. 
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • The Leeds Parent Carer Forum and Health colleagues meet on a monthly basis to feedback parental voice and views. As part of these sessions, we have themed updates where services from across Health are highlighted and discussed.
  • The Leeds Parent Carer Forum have worked with health colleagues to bring together neurodiversity information and resources across Leeds and West Yorkshire. The information is available on the Leeds Local Offer website (April 2026). 
Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Health

Medication reviews for those who are stable on their ADHD medication (i.e. good symptom management, no changes to treatment required) will now move to yearly reviews. This is a change from every 6 months to yearly as per NICE guidelines (point 1.10.1): A healthcare professional with training and expertise in managing ADHD should review ADHD medication at least once a year and discuss with the person with ADHD (and their families and carers as appropriate) whether medication should be continued. It also says in 1.8 regarding maintenance and monitoring, that those under 10 need physical health reviews every 3 months and those 11 and older every 6 months, which we will providing in the Physical Health Monitoring Clinic. Families can also decide to do this monitoring at home or a local provider such as a pharmacy if required.

During the face-to-face physical health monitoring appointment, any concerns can be shared to the CYPMHS assistant about the medication, and this will be discussed with a prescriber regarding next steps. This may include bringing the appointment forward if this is clinically indicated. For those who complete the monitoring at home they can submit text with the readings for review as per the face to face option.

Please note this is common practice for ADHD medication management.  Please see above for NICE guidelines detail. Most ADHD medications are Amber Drugs within Leeds, which means that GPs can provide repeat prescriptions but will not make alterations to the treatment plan. The GP may help with the physical health monitoring but not medication changes; all changes need to be provided by the specialist – which is Leeds CYPMHS.

Update about Oakdale
The process for individuals who have been assessed through Oakdale and live in Calderdale who want to access ADHD medication has been successful. Therefore Oakdale have now extended the offer of medication to Leeds and the rest of West Yorkshire for Young People who were assessed by Oakdale.  Next steps following this will be to look at whether the medication offer can be extended to patients who have been diagnosed by other providers.

The ICB is working with getting a list of providers like Mantle, Oakdale and Evolve that will agree to local standards so there is more consistency.   The list of providers who will be offering the service with these standards for assessment or medication or both should be available from late spring.

They are also producing a leaflet with frequently asked questions to go out to families and GPs about Right to Choose to inform people so they can make the right choice for their Young Person. This information is now available online.

Leeds Community Health care ADHD medication clinics

The Children and young people’s mental health service is working hard to reduce waiting times for ADHD medication.  Actions currently underway include;

  • Working with primary care colleagues (GPs) to see if we can set up a “shared care” approach to medication where we prescribe the meds initially and get young people established on them and then the GP takes on the 6 month review.  This will free up appointment slots for young people from the waiting list.  We are in the early stages of letting GPs know how many young people this would be in their practice. This approach is likely to be specific to GP practice individual agreements at first and not a wholesale approach.  We will let families know if this is going to happen with their medication care/follow up.
  • Using extra waiting list money which has been allocated to the service to employ more prescribers until at least the end of March 2025
  • Calling families to get further information prior to their 1st medication appointment which helps to reduce the appointment time when young people actually attend clinic – this frees up more prescribing appointment time in the long run

Health: sleep and melatonin

Parents / carers said...
  • Scope sleep service is no longer available to families. What support is available for families? 
  • Children not being prescribed melatonin, and no increase in dosage for those already prescribed. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2023)
  • Parent Carer Support Group Network (2023)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • A member of the Voice, Influence and Transparency Working Group meets with the Leeds Parent Carer Forum and Health colleagues on a monthly basis to work on the health issues raised. 
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • Health issues in Leeds are ongoing. The Leeds Parent Carer Forum and Designated Clinical Officer will meet regularly and share updates.
Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Health

  • The ICB and LCH are completing a mapping exercise of what is available through different services (LCH, LTHT and WY wide). Highlighted gaps in provision will be put forward in a business case for system wide consideration. 
  • The Leeds Health and Care Partnership is considering a new sleep support programme for families, with a decision expected in May 2024.
  • Melatonin can be prescribed by ICAN paediatricians after assessment. Families are encouraged to use the One Minute Guide and online resources first.
  • Sleep support is also available through ICAN health visitors, PHINs, CAMHS, and Leeds Mencap.
  • Development of pathways across services to deliver offers for behaviour, eating, drinking, nutrition, continence and sleep.

Health: taking bloods

Parents / carers said...
  • Taking bloods is traumatic and this impacts on the child, and wider family, and could lead to poor health outcomes if bloods cannot be collected or are delayed. 
  • Families have shared issues in accessing the service and bloods being taken in a supportive clinic. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • A member of the Voice, Influence and Transparency Working Group meets with the Leeds Parent Carer Forum and Health colleagues on a monthly basis to work on the health issues raised. 
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • The Leeds Parent Carer Forum have shared the feedback from families with Health colleagues who recognise the issues raised.
Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Health

  • An ask is being put to the SHOAN meeting (May 2026) to agree as a health system to complete a review of Bloods / Vaccinations offer across the city for CYP with SEND.
  • Leeds Teaching Hospitals already offer SEND sessions where play specialists can be made available.
  • A pathway to be established on support available to collect bloods and what the offer looks like.

Health: avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)

Parents / carers said...
  • Families feel services do not have the knowledge to support them with eating difficulties and there is no clear pathway for support / signposting to resources to support. This impacts on the child and their wider family and can limit social interactions and schooling.
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2024)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • A member of the Voice, Influence and Transparency Working Group meets with the Leeds Parent Carer Forum and Health colleagues on a monthly basis to work on the health issues raised. 
  • Information about ARFID support has been added to the Leeds Local Offer website.
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • Health issues in Leeds are ongoing. The Leeds Parent Carer Forum and Designated Clinical Officer will meet regularly and share updates.
  • Delivered an ARFID support workshop for parents and carers at the 2025 Leeds Local Offer Live event.
  • Surveyed parents at the Leeds Local Offer Live event (March 2025) around ARFID support, and also shared the survey electronically. The final report will be shared with the ICB in February 2026. 
  • Facilitated an ARFID support coffee morning for families in September 2025. 
Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Health

Feedback shared in the Parent and Carer Forum ARFID report will be used to inform planning.

At present LCH is reviewing local disordered eating pathways in line with published new guidance on delivery of eating disorders services for children and young people, which will feed into planning for ARFID pathways.

ICB is working with partners to scope how we can improve access to improved early identification and support, and improving training for frontline professionals on disordered eating and ARFID.

Work with colleagues across West Yorkshire to look at the needs of our population, understand current offers across the local areas and hear about evidence of good practice.

Education: education otherwise than in school (EOTIS)

Parents / carers said...
  • Parents and carers have fedback that they are increasingly having to give up work to support their child at home as they cannot attend school due to school not being able to meet their needs. How do families challenge this? 
  • Families have shared that the LA do not support EOTAS packages and naming them in EHCPs.
  • Families wanting to undertake the EOTAS package have shared that there is no support available.
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2022)
  • Parent Carer Support Group Network (2021)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum

No update

Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Learning Access Team

  • The Educational Psychologist Team have consulted with the Leeds Parent Carer Forum, to look at attendance barriers and what support can be developed for parents.
  • Resources have been developed by the Educational Psychologist Team for school staff (and professionals) provide support with attendance.

Education: extended school non-attendance (ESNA)

Parents / carers said...
  • Children and young people are unable to go to school for a range of reasons, this may be due to anxiety.
  • There is increased reports and concerns in relation to ESNA. 
  • Parents and carers report having to give up work to support their child at home. 
  • Not all children and young people have EHCP's.  
  • Parents and carers have fedback a lack of understanding and/or support from school.
  • Families do not feel they are receiving support around exclusions. 
  • There has been a rise in families of children and young people who attend mainstream schools contacting the SILC Cluster.
  • Welfare checks undertaken by schools vary from school to school. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2022)
  • Parent Carer Support Group Network (2021)
  • SEND Event for parents and carers (09.07.24)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Information about the Learning Access Service and contact details have been updated on the Leeds Local Offer website (January 2026).  
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • The Leeds PCF hosted a coffee morning with the Learning Access Team so parent carers can speak with them directly about their services. 
  • The Leeds PCF are coproducing parts of the Inclusive Mainstream Practice (IMP) guidance for Parents and carers. 
  • On Monday 23rd February 2026, the Leeds PCF hosted an event in partnership with the Voice, Influence & Change Team where parent carers could hear about the IMP and share their feedback and thoughts and ask questions.
Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Learning Access Team and Educational Psychology Team

Support for professionals

We continue to have resources available on Leeds for Learning and with the launch of Inclusive Mainstream Practice (IMP) we will be refreshing the resources available. The updates will also be informed by the pilot of the parent support offer to ensure consistency of approach.

Training offer for professionals

We continue to have a training offer on LfL which is tailored to schools but open to all professionals and we have/will deliver it directly to teams on request e.g. YJS requested bespoke delivery.

This is updated and refreshed on an ongoing basis in accordance with developments in research and evidence-based practice.

This has been updated to align with the development of the parent support offer. This is to support consistency of approach and to ensure shared perspectives and understanding.

Support offer for parents

We have developed and piloted a parent support offer - this takes a workshop approach.

This aligns with the professional offer to ensure consistency of approach and to ensure shared perspectives and understanding.

This is currently being evaluated to inform next steps. The intended outcome is to develop an offer which can be rolled out city wide.

If a parent or carer comes across difficulties talking to a school about ESNA or any issue regarding attendance then the School Attendance team can be contacted for information, advice and support ( schoolattendanceservice@leeds.co.uk). 

The Learning Access Team at Leeds City Council has dedicated emails that families can contact for information, advice and support when a child is missing education. 

In general

The team are actively involved in CPD relevant to this area of need.

We have representation in regional and national groups to contribute to and remain up to date with research and evidence based practice.

We have continued to liaise with the Leeds Parent Carer Forum around the offer and to seek their input and perspectives.

The Educational Psychology Team represent within strategic groups and developments relating to attendance to offer a SEND lens and specifically consider practice related to ESNA. This includes contribution to the review of the updated guidance document for reduced timetables, representation at the Attendance Steering Group and the internal Extended Absence Panel.

Education: education, health and care plans (EHCPs)

Parents / carers said...

Key challenges faced by families:

  • Application Process: Families find it confusing; professionals often don’t understand it. 
  • Delays: Long waiting times for assessments due to shortages of educational psychologists and other specialists. 
  • Communication: Poor communication from case workers; inconsistent awareness of law and best practice. 
  • EHCP Quality: Outcomes vary; health and care needs are not treated equally to education. 
  • Child Involvement: Children and young people are rarely involved or informed about their plans. 
  • School Role: Schools often delay applying for EHCP assessments. 
  • Parent Awareness: Many parents don’t know they can apply themselves or appeal if refused. 
  • Refusals & Appeals: Many initial applications are turned down, causing stress; most appeals succeed, but tribunals are delayed or cancelled. 
  • Private Assessments: Families feel forced to pay privately; creates inequality; local authority often rejects private reports. 
  • Placement Issues: Inappropriate settings named in EHCPs; families wait over a year for tribunal decisions. 
  • Impact on Children: Children left without education, leading to isolation, poor mental health, and low self-esteem. 
  • Implementation: Schools sometimes fail to follow EHCPs even when in place.
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2022)
  • Parent Carer Support Group Network (2021)
  • SEND Event for parents and carers (09.07.24)
  • Parent carer support groups (April 2025)
  • Parent carer support groups (December 2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Worked with the service to updated information about EHCP’s on the Leeds Local Offer website. 
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • Raised the issues raised by parents and carers via the Leeds Area SEND and AP Improvement Board. 
  • Attended Scrutiny to share issues and challenges faced by families. 
  • Hosted a SENSAP and Early Help coffee morning for families on the 19th January 2026. 
Service response and next steps

Responsible service: SENSAP, Leeds City Council 

  • Further resources have been secured to increase the number of EHC assessments we can commission. We are working with both internal and external resources to procure more assessments.
  • New mediation provider who have a range of resources to support families with understanding the EHC process including videos and other online tools.
  • Pilot communication study to build effective and timely communications between Local Authority and Schools. 
  • New annual professional development cycle in place for casework officers to ensure the right skills and knowledge to support families.
  • Co-producing a communication charter within the service. 
  • QA framework is complete with working groups in place. Weekly moderation meetings underway.
  • Resolution Officer recruited - further recruitment underway for Assessment & Review Officers.
  • Back log team mobilisation underway to be online from April 26.

SEND and Inclusion Transformation update

Following an increase in demands on service and workforce challenges resulting in a drop in statutory performance, Leeds City Council accessed its EHC assessment, plan, and annual review processes to identify key opportunities for change. The review has identified areas for improvement in the Council's communications, processes, support provided, and consistency in approaches. 

Our aim is to implement changes and improvements, to help the Council achieve its vision, that children and young people in Leeds with SEND, have the best possible start to life and equal opportunities to learn.

For the latest updates visit https://tinyurl.com/SENDTransformation 

Education: reduced timetables

Parents / carers said...
  • Parents carers have raised the number of children that are being placed on a reduced timetable, which has been enforced by schools and not agreed with parents' carers.  
  • Parents feel decisions are made purely for the schools benefit with no full reintegration plan or good reason for reduced timetable.
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2026)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group

No update

Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
  • The Leeds PCF raised the issue of reduced timetables at the Children and Families Scrutiny Board in January 2026
  • The Leeds PCF have raised the issue of part-time timetables with the SENSAP Lead and Chief Officer for Education and are waiting on an update (January 2026). 
Service response and next steps
  • The service have the aggregated figures and are engaging with individual schools around conversations how to reduce these (March 2026). 

Preparing for adulthood: information and support

Parents / carers said...
  • There is no preparation for adulthood for children who are highly anxious.
  • Lack of post 16 provision.
  • Careers advice given in schools but families not aware of the options available for their child.  
  • Families are provided with lots of information about preparation for adulthood but the offer is not clear. 
  • For young people not in education there is a lack of information / pathways about their options. 
  • More support for young people with SEND as they transition to adulthood  i.e. in college etc. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • SEND Event for parents and carers (09.07.24)
  • Parent carer PfA survey (Oct/Nov 2025)
  • Parent carer support groups (Dec 2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Information about preparing for adulthood on the Leeds Local Offer website has been reviewed and updated.
  • The Leeds Local Offer Team are working with specialist provisions to host localised PfA marketplace events for parents and carers.  
  • Child Friendly Leeds are working with ambassadors and specialist post 16 provisions to enhance learn to work opportunities for students.
  • The Voice, Influence and Change Team and SENDIASS are working in partnership with young people to develop PfA resources and information (October 2025 to March 2026).
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum

No update

Service response and next steps
  • Preparing for Adulthood has been identified as a task and finish group that will report to the Leeds Area SEND and AP Partnership Board (January 2026).  

Professionals’ knowledge of SEND services

Parents / carers said...
  • Families have told us that they feel school staff require further SEND training to ensure they understand how to meet the needs of their children. 
  • School staff require more awareness of masking and need to reduce parent blame.
  • Families would like professionals to show more empathy and understanding to families. 
  • Families would like to be involved in training and feel all training should include should lived experience. 
  • Lack of neurodivergent expertise within leadership.
  • Families feel professionals they come into contact with require more in-depth knowledge of SEND services available in Leeds. 
  • Families feel they receive different messages about service depending on who they speak to i.e. GPs, schools etc. 
  • Training for all services not just SEND i.e. housing. 
  • School staff have a lack of knowledge of SEND services in Leeds. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2022)
  • Parent Carer Support Group Network (2021)
  • SEND Event for parents and carers (09.07.24)
  • Parent carer support groups (Dec 2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Consulted via an online survey for parents and carers to identify schools and area of need that requires further training (96 parent carer responded).  
  • A recommendations report will be shared early 2026.
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum

No update

Service response and next steps

Responsible service: Workforce Development and One SEND Team 

  • SEND training offer for school staff and SENCOs delivered by Learning Inclusion. 
  • Promotion of the Leeds Local Offer to education, health and social care professionals. 
  • The Children and Families Workforce Development Team have developed an online SEND basic awareness training package for all Children and Families staff. There are four key principals that all staff will be expected to complete. The training will include lived experience from parents, carers, children and young people.  
  • Inclusive Mainstream Practice resources, and information for schools and families was launched in November 2025 and is available on the Leeds Local Offer website. 

Information for families where English is a second language

Parents / carers said...
  • Families where English is a second language struggle to access SEND services and information. 
  • Families cannot always read written information and require it in a different format. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Voice and Influence Transparency working group (Nov 2024) – raised by schools rep.
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • SENDIASS, Leeds Local Offer and Leeds Parent Carer Forum to meet to explore how information can be developed so all families can access and understand SEND services. 
  • The Leeds Local Offer website enables users to change the language of the website. 
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
Service response and next steps

Updating coming soon

Brought to a close (issues tracker)

Brought to a close

Terminology used by the Local Authority, schools and parents.

Parents / carers said...

For example: 

  • A setting can be neurodiverse - having different neurotypes - as long as it isn’t, say a setting just for Autistic CYP. Then it would be a setting for Autistic CYP. 
  • A CYP can be neurodivergent - having a neurotype which differs from the majority. 
  • A CYP cannot be neurodiverse. 
  • Most mainstream schools are neurodiverse with a proportion of neurodivergent CYP.
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum 
  • Parent Carer Support Group Network
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Raised the issues with SENSAP and EP Team. 
Work of the Leeds Parent Carer Forum
Service response
  • The local authority currently use the DfE terminology, and within plans there is certain legal terminology that has to be used. 
  • SENSAP caseworkers have been exploring training they can attend around communicating with families and terminology. 
  • Customer relations fedback that when communicating with complainants they use the same language / terminology as the person complaining has used.

Information about SEND services

Parents / carers said...
  • Advocacy for families attending meetings with schools and SEND services.
  • Support for families to navigate SEND services and not just signpost. 
  • Sharing information about SEND school support with families.
  • Information about youth groups and activities available. 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2022)
  • Parent Carer Support Group Network (2021)
  • SEND Event for parents and carers (09.07.24)
  • Parent carer support groups (April 2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Raised the issue with Leeds Local Offer and SENDIASS. 
Service response
  • The Leeds Local Offer website has been furthered developed, and information about services reviewed. 
  • The Leeds Local Offer introduction to SEND services booklet is available on the Leeds Local Offer website, and in hard copy format. The booklet is reviewed and updated annually. 
  • Monthly SEND parent carer information drop ins including focussed workshops run in partnership by Leeds Local Offer, Leeds Parent Carer Forum, SENDIASS, Carers Leeds, CHAD and Speech and Language. 
  • Annual Leeds Local Offer Live market place event for families to find out about SEND services in Leeds. 
  • The Leeds Local Offer team host a facebook group, and post daily to share information about SEND services with families. 
  • The Leeds Parent Carer Forum deliver workshops for families based on need. 
  • SENDIASS deliver their offer via their website, social media, youtube, workshops etc. SENDIASS will have increased capacity in 2025/26. 
  • Seven new Family Hubs across the city, each hub has a SEND Coordinator. 

Financial support

Parents / carers said...
  • Support around trusts and wills 
  • Support applying for PIP
  • DLA claims taking 5 to 6 months to process
  • Impact on families financially due to caring responsibilities 
Who the issues were raised by
  • Parent carer support groups (April 2025)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Raised the issues with the Leeds Local Offer. 
Service response
  • A section has been developed on the Leeds Local Offer about financial advice and support and also cost of living support. 

Hydrotherapy

Parents / carers said...
  • Parents have been advised by professionals that Hydrotherapy cannot be documented as a support option as there no services available in Leeds
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (2024)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Raised the issues with the Leeds Local Offer. 
Service response

Transitions through education phases

Parents / carers said...
  • Support, information and resources for all key stages of transition. (primary to secondary, secondary to post 16, post 16 to next steps).
Who the issues were raised by
  • Leeds Parent Carer Forum (Jan 2026)
Work of the Voice, Influence & Transparency Working Group
  • Raised the issue with the Leeds Local Offer Team. 
Service response

Brought to a close March 2023