LEEDS PCF

18/06/2026

The Ofsted and CQC SEND inspection report for Leeds has now been published.
You can read it here, along with our response below:
🔗 https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50304690

We welcome the publication of the recent Ofsted and CQC SEND inspection report for Leeds.

Parent carers across Leeds have consistently shared their experiences with us, and we recognise many of the issues highlighted in this report. In particular, families have long raised concerns about delays in assessment, difficulties accessing support and the impact this has on children, young people and their families.

We appreciate the opportunity to have contributed to the inspection process and to ensure that the voices of parent carers were heard. It is important that these lived experiences have been clearly reflected in the findings.

There must now be a strong and sustained focus on delivering meaningful improvements for children and young people with SEND and their families.

We remain committed to working collaboratively with partners to ensure that services improve and that families receive the timely, effective support they need and deserve.

18/06/2026

18/06/2026

We know from families that support for ARFID and eating difficulties in Leeds can feel inconsistent and hard to access.
Last year, families shared their experiences with us through workshops and a survey, and we used this feedback to create a report for local health partners.

We’ve now received a response from the ICB, along with some useful resources that families can access.

We’ve pulled everything together in a new blog post, which you can read here: https://www.leedsparentcarerforum.co.uk/news/updated-information-for-families-around-arfid/

We’ll keep sharing updates as this work develops, so families can stay informed along the way.

16/06/2026

We’re looking for volunteers to support us at some of our events🙏

If chatting to people face-to-face feels a bit daunting, this could be a great way to get involved. The role is simple - you’ll help by typing up comments and feedback from the session onto Padlet, an online noticeboard we use to collect feedback.

You'll be helping us to capture what families are saying, and making sure that every voice is heard.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, we’d love to hear from you. Just get in touch with us at: [email protected]

15/06/2026

Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (CETRs) are designed to support people at risk of hospital admission, but how well are they working in practice?

Two research projects are currently exploring this. If your child has been at risk of hospital admission or has had a CETR, you might find it helpful to take a look.

You can find out more here:

👉 Cecilia research project: https://cecilia.org.uk/
👉 King’s College London OPTICAT study: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/opticat

Please do share this with others who might be interested.

The OptiCaT study aims to investigate Care Education and Treatment Reviews for people with learning disability and autistic people and how these can be improved

11/06/2026

We’ve been given some helpful speech and language resources to pass on following a recent SEND parent carer drop-in.

These were shared by a Speech and Language Therapist and include practical advice, tools and information:

➡️ Leeds Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapy service: https://leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services-a-z/child-speech-and-language-therapy/

➡️Speech and language therapy toolkit: https://leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services-a-z/child-speech-and-language-therapy/speech-and-language-therapy-toolkit/

We hope these are useful starting points for families.

(A big thank you to Sian, Speech and Language Therapist at Leeds Community Healthcare, for sharing these with us🙏)

10/06/2026

Lots of great conversations, shared learning and connections at this year’s Contact & NNPCF Conference in Sheffield, bringing parent carer forums together from across the country.

There’s now a highlights reel from the day, capturing some of the moments and discussions that made it such a valuable event.

Take a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs8ADi0sHKg

Contact - For families with disabled children National Network of Parent Carer Forums

Highlights film from 3rd February 2026 Joint Contact & NNPCF Confer...

10/06/2026

SEND Parents Support Sessions

Leeds SENDIASS will be attending all three sessions of this fantastic support programme for parents and carers of children with SEND and we’d love to see you there.

These sessions are a great opportunity to get information, ask questions and connect with other families. No booking required.

📅 Next session details:
• Session 2: EHCPs – 15th June 2026, 9:15–10:45
• Session 3: SEND Support – 6 July 2026, 9:15–10:45

📍 Where:
Castleton Primary School, Green Lane, Armley, LS12 1JZ.

💬 Leeds SENDIASS will be there at every session, so please come along to chat to the team, get independent advice and find out how we can support you and your child. See you there!

10/06/2026

For many disabled children and young people, getting to school, medical appointments, social activities, or simply seeing friends isn't straightforward. Unreliable or inaccessible transport can mean missed opportunities, isolation, and added stress for the whole family.

Community Transport Association is conducting nationwide research to understand the real transport challenges facing disabled children and young people. They want to hear from:

👉 Parents and carers of disabled children and young people (up to age 25)
👉 Disabled young people aged 16–25 with their own lived experience of transport

The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete, and participants can enter a prize draw to win one of three £250 vouchers.
Deadline: 5pm, Tuesday 30th June 2026

Take part here:

A survey tool with a strong emphasis on accessibility. The application goes beyond accessibility standards by providing surveys that adapt to respondents individual needs.

08/06/2026

The Leeds SEND Youth Council are proud to be hosting a special event for Disability Pride Month:

🌟 This is Us: Proud to Belong - A SEND Celebration 🌟

📆 Wednesday, 22nd July
🕐 10:30am - 2:30pm (drop in anytime)
📍 Leeds Kirkgate Market Event Space (food hall)

The Leeds SEND Youth Council are a group of young people with special educational needs and disabilities who work together to share their views and help make Leeds more inclusive.

This event is all about bringing people together so no one feels alone - celebrating identity, raising awareness, and sharing voices.

What to expect:
👉 Creative activities like badge-making, flag design and fidget toy making
👉 A sensory area
👉 Performances
👉 Information stalls and support
👉 A welcoming space to connect with others

Everyone is welcome!
Find out more here: https://tinyurl.com/ThisIsUsEvent22ndJuly

Let’s come together, be proud of who we are, and celebrate our community