We really want your help to improve the services that all parents and carers can access from pregnancy through to their child’s second birthday. Join our parent and carer panel and tell us what you think.
Who we are looking for
If you are currently expecting a baby, or you have a baby under the age of 2, we'd love to hear from you.
We want to hear from a diverse group of parents and carers to make sure we listen to all voices in our community.
You do not need to have taken part in anything like this before. If you’re willing to share your experiences of pregnancy, having a baby and accessing services then we’d love to hear from you.
What we talk about at parent and carer panel meetings
We talk about a variety of topics. We might ask you about your experience of meeting your midwife for the first time or accessing parenting classes. We'll ask you to share any ideas you have on early years services to help shape them.
Where and when the meetings are
We know that you are busy. We work with you to find times that work for as many of the group as possible.
We hold virtual meetings as well as evening, morning and afternoon sessions to try and accommodate as many people as possible.
Who else is on the panel
The panel includes other parents and carers like you, who are willing to speak about their current or recent experiences. There is also someone to help lead the session, and someone to take notes.
What happens to the information you share
We use your information anonymously to help shape services in your area and improve the quality of care that other new families receive.
We take notes in the meetings, but we don't record or share any personally identifiable information outside of the meeting.
The notes taken in panel meetings may be published. Case studies that refer to the panel’s feedback could be made public. If this happens, we won't use any personal data that could identify you.
We strongly encourage you not to share the views of any of the other participants outside of the panel.
What’s in it for you
You'll contribute ideas to improve services for yourself and your child. You could also:
- get a qualification - we do specialised training on topics such as mental health, special educational needs and disabilities, breastfeeding, safeguarding and neglect training
- receive offer vouchers in return for your time
How long you can be on the panel
We want you to contribute to the panel for long enough to benefit from the experience. This will depend on when you decide to join, and how recent your experiences of expecting a baby or accessing services with a baby under 2 years old are.
You can stay on the panel for at least 6 months after your youngest child turns 2 years old.
You're free to leave the panel at any point.
What we use your feedback for
We review your feedback and use the information to help inform the early years services in your local area.
We might also share your feedback with the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Education, and the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to inform their policy work. If we do, it will be shared anonymously.