Rainbow Parents Carers Forum

Rainbow Parents Carers Forum Rainbow Parents Carers Forum is a support group and independent voice for parents and carers who have a child with a disability or additional needs.

Rainbow Parents Carers Forum is a support group and independent voice for parents and carers who have a child with a disability or additional needs in Nottinghamshire and surrounding areas. The Forum is run by parents for parents and has been around for 35 years. It was originally set up in 1986 as the Floyd Group, a support group for families attending the Trent Day Nursery in Nottingham. Over th

e years the group has grown and shrunk with the support of several national charities. During the three year 'Aiming High for Disabled Children' Programme, the group became a forum. In 2011 the group became an independent parent-led organisation and registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in January 2014. To support families, Rainbow runs regular inclusive family activities such as supported play activities, a Befriending Social Group and monthly swimming sessions. For some families this is a lifeline. We also host monthly parent to parent meetings where parents and carers can meet to share information and advice and offer support to each other. We currently have approximately 700 parents and carers on our database who we keep informed via our regular email bulletin and peer networks. Our Nottingham City Parent Representatives shape and influence services on both a local and national level as part of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums. Rainbow is recognised as an essential means of support for many families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities that would otherwise be isolated.

06/06/2026

Help shape SEND support in Nottingham City
The government has introduced changes to SEND support through a White Paper. Because of this, Nottingham City Council must work with families to create a Local SEND Reform Plan by 19 June 2026.
This plan will set out how SEND support will improve, how services work together, and how children and families are supported earlier.
We will be coproducing the plan.
This means:
• Parents and carers are listened to
• Children and young people’s voices matter
• Decisions are made together, not behind closed doors
Nothing is changing right now. This work is about planning for better support in the future.
Get involved, share your views, complete our short survey

05/06/2026

Our next Rainbow Early Years stay and play session is Monday 15 June, 10:30 - 12:00 at Footprints Centre, Clifton, NG11 9DG.

05/06/2026

The National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) welcomes the publication of the Department for Education’s Developing and delivering the Experts at Hand offer in year 1: supporting guidan…

05/06/2026

🏠 Have your say on Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs)

We’re consulting on proposed changes to our Disabled Facilities Grant policy, which helps fund home adaptations for disabled residents.

The proposed changes aim to reflect rising costs, reduce financial barriers, and improve support for families.

Take part in the consultation and share your views: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/engage-nottingham-hub/open-consultations/improving-access-to-disabled-facilities-grant/

⏰ Consultation closes: Wednesday 3 June.

Image: Carlton Design & Fabrication

05/06/2026

When your local authority (LA) sends you a draft EHC plan...

✔️ Your LA must
Give you at least 15 days to:
- give your comments about the draft EHC plan
- request a meeting with your LA to discuss the draft (if you want to), and
- request that the educational setting you would like is named in the final EHC plan.

❌️ Your LA must not
- rush you to provide your comments and requests in a shorter time
- tell you it cannot give you any time to have your say
- refuse to meet with you (if you ask for a meeting)
- tell you it will not consult with the setting you have asked for until the EHC plan has been finalised

Visit our website to learn more about what to do when you receive a draft EHC plan: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/what-to-do-when-you-receive-your-draft-ehc-plan

05/06/2026

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 - 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭/𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩-𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Get to seek advice from the Nottinghamshire County Council’s Disability Family Support Service - Occupational Therapy, Short Breaks and Specialist Support
These sessions are a chance to ask questions, seek advice and find out more about the support available.

📍 * 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐯𝐞 – Friday 19 June, 10am–12pm
📍 *𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 – Tuesday 14 July, 10am–12pm

👇🏼𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 👇🏼

05/06/2026

𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈!
We still have a couple of spaces left on our upcoming LEGO®-Based Therapy Workshop for parents and carers of children and young people with additional needs.

The workshop will be led by Nottinghamshire Educational Psychology Service and will help parents and carers learn more about the approach used in schools, including practical ideas to try at home.

📅 Wednesday 24 June
⏰ 10am – 1pm
📍 Ashwood Centre, Portland St, Kirkby in Ashfield, NG17 7AB
✅ Free to attend
✅ All resources provided

To book one of the remaining places, please email: 𝐞𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬@𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐬𝐩𝐜𝐟.𝐨𝐫𝐠

03/06/2026

💭 The Minds of All Kinds website offers support and resources for neurodivergent people of all ages.

Visit the website for:
➡️ Explanations of ADHD and Autism and other neurodivergent differences.
➡️ Local services, referral information and how to navigate the system
➡️ Personal stories

See comments for link 👇

Address

C/O 2A Cross Street, NG5 7BL
Nottingham
NG75QE

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