What is the Thurrock Parent/School Partnership Service?

We are a service for parents/carers, pupils, schools and other agencies providing information, advice and support in connection with childrens development, educational progress (including special educational needs), choosing schools and exclusions.

Want to know where to find help?

We run support groups where parents/carers can share their concerns to gain information and build confidence in supporting their children's education.

Information on a range of issues and about local and national organisations is available in our office and included in the information pack. Books, audio and video cassettes can be borrowed. All the leaflets and information produced for parents/carers is available in the community languages. Some information is available in braille and on audiocassette. The service also works with the Local Education Authority (LEA) and schools to identify and provide training for parents/carers, governors and teachers.

A key aim of the Service is to ensure that parents/carers are able to play an informed part in any decisions about their son or daughters' education and to build partnerships between parents/carers, the LEA and schools.

We do this by providing the following:

• A confidential Helpline for parents/carers
• Support groups for parents/carers
• Verbal and written information
• Help to complete forms and to understand complex documents and reports
• Information sessions and conferences for parents' groups
• Advocacy and mediation
• Training
• Advice on rights and responsibilities
• Support at meetings or when visiting new schools
• Support through the statutory assessment process (statementing)
• Volunteers to support parents/carers as required (Independent Parental Supporters)
• Regular surgery sessions at different schools in the area
• Information about Thurrock Council's procedures for the identification and assessment of SEN
• Support through fixed-term and permanent exclusions.