February 2008

First transition seminar helps parents in Derby

8/02/08

Yesterday saw the first in our series of free transitions seminars for parents. Thirty parents from Derby and the surrounding area met together to hear about good practice and to share their experiences of this potentially difficult time.

Chaired by Kevin Walters, a parent and a member of our board, this day included presentations from Cally Ward, a parent whose own son has been through a number of transitions and Kevin Stanner, a young person talking about his own real life experiences of transition. The afternoon session was dedicated to group discussions, where we talked about at what is work and isn't working locally, and what we could do as a result of today.

Kate Jackson, our Transition Development Manager said,

"Having the right information, at the right time is especially important for parents who are about to support their son or daughter through the transition process. We discovered that this is an area that still needs improving. Even though there is a vast amount of information to hand, knowing where to get the support or information from in the first place is still a major issue for most families. I think this day was a starting point for many families and hopefully many went away feeling empowered about the possibilities for their son or daughter after they leave school or college. The 5 big questions which looked at local practice is a real starting point for us to develop real partnerships between provider, parents and local authorities."

Feedback from parents indicates that it was a useful event for all: "meeting the Dimensions team gave me light at the end of the tunnel."

Last updated: 27th June 2008 at 12:06:55