Essex Family Forum is part of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) and the Eastern Region Regional Parent Carer Forum (ERPCF)
The NNPCF’s membership is made up of (up to) 153 local parent carer forums, currently comprising 154,000* parent carers. These member forums are arranged into 9 regions, these follow the same regional breakdown as the Department for Education. We are are in the East of England Region.
Each of the regions appoints a regional representative to act as their regional steering group member within the NNPCF national steering group. Our NNPCF Regional Director for the East of England is Jo Harrison.
The Eastern Region Regional Parent Carer Forum ( ERPCF) is one of the 9 regions within the National Network of Parent Carer Forums ( NNPCF). It brings together and 11 Parent Carer Forums (PCFs) from across the East of England. Each of these forums represents local parents and carers and receives the Department for Education (DfE) DfE Grant for parent participation for their Local or Unitary Authority.
You can read more about our regional voice here: https://easternregionofparentcarerforums.org.uk/about/a-voice-for-the-eastern-region/
The role of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) is to bring together the views and experiences of families from local forums, such as Essex Family Forum. The NNPCF works closely with national organisations including the Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England (NHSE) to influence policy and guidance. This helps ensure that the voices of parents and carers shape the laws, services, and support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and that families are heard at the highest levels—not just locally or regionally.
Julia Brunning our management committee member, is a National Representative with the NNPCF working both regionally and nationally, including being the appointed representative to attend the National SEND Forum, which brings together key organisations such as National Head Teachers Union, Special Schools Consortium, NASEN and Whole School SEND.
Jo Harrison our Strategic Development Coordinator (Heath Inequalties) East of England Regional Director for the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) and also the National Co-Chair.
You can read about the work of NNPCF here: https://nnpcf.org.uk/blog/our-work/our-work-at-a-glance/
This means your views not only contribute to the work we do in Essex but also to regional and national discussions and developments relating to SEND.
*As per financial year 2023/2024
Click on the image opposite to see highlights from the 2024 National Parent Carer Forum Conference.
