Plymouth Parent Carer Voice

We just wanted to remind you, with tomorrow being the first day of the new academic year for many young people, we are here to help.

If any issues or blips occur, please let us know and we will do all we can to smooth the transition back to school by supporting you and the setting.

For those who are not returning to a setting, don't forget that we are here for you, too.

Please email: [email protected]

We can't solve everything, but we will keep doing our best to help you get your voice heard.

Best wishes, Team PPCV 😊

Sharing on behalf of OCEAN City RUGBY inclusive :

🏉Do you care for a child with SEND with a love of sport? Then come along and see what we have to offer!

🏉We are a NEW, inclusive, non-contact Tag Rugby Club for children with SEN, ADHD, Autism, and neurodivergence who have a love for sport. Boys and girls aged 5 yrs upwards are welcome.

🏉Ocean City Rugby Inclusive was launched in July 2024 by Stephen (Hoops) Hooper, Captain of the Invictus Games 2024. Our aim is to help players gain self-esteem, self-confidence, communication and listening skills and develop coordination whilst exercising and team building. Young people will gain skills both in Non-Contact Tag Rugby and socially whilst having fun and laughter in a safe space.

🏉Training is tailored each week to the players that are at the session. At every training session, each player must have a parent / carer with them and be prepared to help their player's participation (there is no pressure - do it your way!)

🏉Our coaches are volunteers and work with the players to gain their trust at the same time working with the parents all in a safe environment.

🏉Our season runs from September - July. During the summer holidays, we have extra fun sessions. We have a Player of the week medal and an end-of-season trophy presentation. We also have a social side which has included trampolining and bowling.

☺️Everyone is welcome. along side our parents / carers/ volunteers we want to be able to develop the club in the future for our players allowing the club to expand.

⭐Let's build something great for these amazing children.

For more information please see our page OCEAN City RUGBY inclusive or email - [email protected]

This is the final post in a series of 6 that PPCV has been asked to share by Plymouth City Council regarding School Transport. A huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to respond.

🎯 The aim of the series of posts was to provide potential steps that can be taken whilst we all work together to get it right for families. You are welcome to scroll back through and add your comments so we can continue to share the experiences of as many families as possible.

🗣If you prefer to feedback your ideas and suggestions in a face-to-face environment, on Friday, 13th of November, PPCV will be hosting the Family Forum at the Moments Cafe at 10am. The topic of the Forum is School Transport. This will be a working group looking at the issues and parent carers' thoughts on how to solve them. More information about this will be shared soon.

⭐In the meantime, here is the final post:

Do you think you or someone you know could be a Passenger Assistant?

Do you or someone you know have the skills to be one of our amazing team of Passenger Assistants?
Maybe you fancy a change?
Maybe you are returning to work after a break?
Maybe it is your first job?

If you think you might be interested or know someone who may be interested, then contact school transport on 01752 308770 or email [email protected]

As promised, here is the feedback that you gave us about the SEND Conference, which was held at the University of Plymouth on 30th June 2026: https://plymouthpcv.co.uk/your-feedback-from-the-2026-send-conference/

Thank you to everyone for taking part in the day and for letting us know what worked/didn't work for you 😊

Here is the next post that PPCV has been asked by Plymouth City Council to share about School Transport and the issues families are facing with cancellations.

⏰We have been sharing this information every day this week at 6pm. Feel free to browse our previous posts and add your own comments/ideas/suggestions.

🎯 The aim of the series of posts is to provide potential steps that can be taken whilst we all work together to get it right for families. You are welcome to share your own suggestions and comments with us to feed back on your behalf, or contact the Transport Department directly.

⭐This is post 5 of 6 that have been shared this week.

What to do if you need to cancel?

You may need to cancel your transport sometimes.

This could be for sickness, holidays or appointments.

It is really important that you cancel so that we can make sure that we can use your Passenger Assistant on another route.

To cancel your transport, you can call school transport on 01752 308770
Or text them on 07800005336

⭐TEXT SERVICE is a 24-hour service. You will not get a response, but it will be dealt with BEFORE the answerphone service is dealt with.
⭐ In your message, you need the route number, name of pupil, and the date/time of the cancellation.
⭐ You ONLY need to leave a reason if your cancellation or change affects the type of vehicle required or the support needed (for example, wheelchair accessible, epilepsy or EpiPen requirements).

If you didn't get a chance to visit our stall-holders at the 2026 SEND Conference this year, don't worry! We have got lots of them scheduled to join our Wednesday Midday Meet-up Sessions starting next week.

We are still working with organisations and groups to get dates organised for you, so please bear with us and check back regularly. We will also update you via social media and our termly newsletter.

Can't make the session? Not a problem. We will record it for you to access via the Members' Portal at a later date 😊

Here is post number 4 out of 6 that PPCV has been asked to share with you by Plymouth City Council about School Transport and the issues families are facing with cancellations.

⏰We will share the information with you every day this week at 6pm.

🎯 The aim of the series of posts is to provide potential steps that can be taken whilst we all work together to get it right for families. You are welcome to share your own suggestions and comments with us to feed back on your behalf, or contact the Transport Department directly.

⭐Here is post 4 of 6:

Can you or someone you know and trust help to transport your child?

Is your student on a one-to-one travel arrangement? Is there another trusted adult that could jump in with them?

Usually, when your route is cancelled because we don’t have a Passenger Assistant – but we DO have the vehicle and driver.

Could you jump in with your child to accompany them to school?
Is there another trusted adult that could jump in with them?
We can pick you up and drop you back as part of this arrangement.

Please note – this is only possible if your child does not share a vehicle with other children.

If you would like to discuss this with School Transport, contact us on 01752 308770

Join us for our next online Wednesday Midday Meet-Up session.

⭐ PEM Disability Children's Club
📅 Weds 9th September
⏰ Midday
💻 Online information session with Q&As

PEM support the community with equal opportunity and access for sport and recreational activities and believes that no one should be left behind because of a disability!

PEM believes it is possible to remove boundaries, fulfil dreams, enhance self-esteem, and empower youth with disabilities through participation in sport and recreational activities. They organise sessions in football, basketball, floorball hockey, kwik cricket, mini tennis and soft athletics.

We hope you can join us 😊

PPCV has been asked by Plymouth City Council to share a series of posts about School Transport and the issues families are facing with cancellations.

⏰We will share the information with you every day this week at 6pm. This is post 3 of 6.

🎯 The aim of the series of posts is to provide potential steps that can be taken whilst we all work together to get it right for families. You are welcome to share your own suggestions and comments with us to feed back on your behalf, or contact the Transport Department directly.

⭐Here is post 3 of 6:

Does your Child Need a Passenger Assistant?

Children who are in Year 5 and below ALL need a Passenger Assistant to travel safely.

Children in Year 6 and above might not.

If you think that your child might not need a passenger assistant, talk to the School Transport Team, and this may help us to arrange your transport more quickly.

Please call the team on 01752 308770.

TODAY at The Hideaway Cafe (PL4 0ST) from 9:30 am - 10:30 am.

If you are looking for a relaxed meet-up opportunity next week, PPCV will be at The Hideaway Cafe at Faraday Mill on Wednesday, 2nd September. You will find us upstairs (next to the soft play area).

Drop in any time for a chat from 9:30 - 10:30 am.

💭 find out about support, services and activities in Plymouth for children and young people with SEND;
🗨 share strategies, knowledge and experiences;
👍 feel supported, understood and heard;
🍪 eat biscuits (and drink tea/coffee/squash).

Hope to see you there! 😊