SEND Reform Engagement and Listening Events
March 4, 2026
As Southend’s Parent Carer Forum, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF), we encourage you to share your experiences — your voice really matters in shaping support for our children and young people.
We’re hosting informal drop-in sessions at Southend Civic Centre during the consultation period specifically to gather your feedback and thoughts on the proposed changes, so we can reflect the real views of parent carers in our response. Please come along to share your views or ask any questions — we’d love to see you there.
The SEND Partnership is also hosting an information Event and will present an overview of the key proposed changes, highlight the areas the government is consulting on, and empower parent carers with the information needed to share their views with confidence.
The SEND Partnership will require pre-booking tickets and you can do that here, tickets.
As another busy term comes to a close, we'd like to take a moment to reflect on what has been a fantastic few months for SSIF and to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been part of it. Supporting Parent Carer Wellbeing Our Healthy Parent Carer Programme is coming to the end of another successful programme, and we'd like to thank every parent carer who signed up and took part. The programme was created to give parent carers the opportunity to make time for themselves, connect with others who understand the unique challenges of caring for a child or young person with SEND, learn practical self-care and stress management strategies, prioritise their own wellbeing, and find a little more calm and balance. Run by Parent Carers, for Parent Carers, these sessions provide a safe and supportive space where wellbeing really matters. We hope everyone who attended found the programme helpful and came away feeling supported and equipped with strategies they can continue to use long after the sessions have finished. Southend SEND Information Day 💙 What a day! In June, we proudly co-hosted our second Southend SEND Information Day alongside the Southend SEND Local Offer Team, welcoming more than 100 visitors from across Southend. The event brought together parent carers, education, health and social care professionals, representatives from the local authority, community organisations and the NHS to share information, answer questions and strengthen relationships across the SEND community. We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended, as well as all of our fantastic stall holders who gave their time, knowledge and expertise to support families throughout the day. It was a privilege to facilitate so many meaningful conversations, helping families better understand the SEND system and the support available to them. If you attended one of our topic talks—or weren't able to make it on the day—you can still access the presentation slides here: Topic Slides Thank You for Your Contributions to the Area SEND Inspection We would also like to thank all of the parents, carers, children, young people and practitioners who contributed to the recent Area SEND Inspection. Whether you completed a survey or shared your experiences directly with inspectors, your willingness to speak openly and honestly has helped provide a meaningful picture of SEND services across our area. A special thank you goes to the children and young people who took part. Your voices matter, and it is so important that your experiences continue to shape the services designed to support you. To every parent and carer who took the time to contribute—thank you. Your insights and lived experiences are invaluable in helping drive positive change for SEND families across Southend. Wishing You All a Wonderful Summer ☀️ As we head into the summer holidays, we know this can mean very different things for every SEND family. For some, it brings excitement and opportunities to spend quality time together. For others, the change in routine can feel challenging or overwhelming. Whatever your summer looks like, we hope you'll remember that there is no "right" way to do the holidays. Try not to worry about expectations or comparisons—do what works best for your family. Sometimes the best days are the simplest ones. If you're looking for ideas over the summer, there are lots of fantastic resources and organisations offering activities, support and affordable days out. Some helpful places to start include: Southend SEND Local Offer Events & Activities – Find local events, activities and support available throughout the summer: https://www.livewellsouthend.com/events-activities CEA Card – If your child or young person needs additional support at the cinema, you may be eligible for a complimentary ticket for a carer: https://www.ceacard.co.uk/ Kids Eat Free & £1 Meals – Discover restaurants and cafés offering family-friendly meal deals during the holidays: https://moneysavingcentral.co.uk/kids-eat-free Southend Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme – If your child is eligible, there are lots of free activities available throughout the summer: https://www.livewellsouthend.com/activities/holiday-activities-food-programme-haf Access Card – The Access Card can help communicate your child or young person's access requirements at attractions and events, making visits easier and more inclusive: https://www.accesscard.online/ There are also some fantastic local organisations running events over the summer, including you can click on their name to take you to their Facebook profiles: Little Heroes Just Ride Southend Ronnie's Way Blossom SEND STRM (Send The Right Message) We'll continue sharing activities, events and opportunities that we come across on our social media channels throughout the summer, so be sure to keep an eye out. Finally, we'd like to wish every family a happy, restful and enjoyable summer break. However you choose to spend it, we hope you find moments of fun, laughter, connection and rest. We look forward to seeing you in September! 💙
Support for Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing For those who were unable to attend our recent event, we are pleased to share the presentation slides from the day. We were delighted to host a range of speakers who highlighted the support available to children, young people and families across Essex. Representatives from NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) provided an overview of their Babies, Children and Young People portfolio and their commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people through their ROAR values – Ready, Organised, Ambitious and Relentless. Their work spans a wide range of areas including mental health, neurodiversity, SEND and physical health services. The School Nursing Team and Mental Health Support Team (MHST) shared information about the support they provide to children and young people, including emotional wellbeing support, resources available within schools and colleges, and ways families can access advice and guidance. The NHS Essex ICB delivered information about Mid and South Essex Children and Young People Counselling Service, delivered in partnership by Kids Inspire, Renew Counselling and Open Door. The service provides accessible emotional wellbeing and counselling support for children and young people experiencing challenges such as anxiety, low mood and the impact of trauma. We also heard from SNAP, who outlined the wide range of support they offer to families of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities, including information, guidance, counselling, helplines and face-to-face support. We hope you find the information within these slides helpful in understanding the services and support available to children, young people and families across our area.
Tell us about your Family's experience of Mental Health support Services in Southend-on-Sea.
We know that many parent carers across Southend share the same frustrations when it comes to accessing the right support for children and young people with SEND. Southend SEND Independent Forum has submitted a detailed response to the Government’s SEND Reform Consultation, drawing directly on the lived experiences of local families. Our submission has been shaped by the experiences, views, and feedback shared by parent carers across Southend. Through conversations with families, community engagement, online discussions, and direct feedback, we have highlighted the challenges many children and young people with SEND continue to face, alongside practical recommendations for improving support and outcomes. We would like to thank every parent carer who took the time to share their experiences, concerns, and ideas. Your voices have been central in helping us reflect the realities facing families in Southend and strengthen this response. Our response highlights the areas that parent carers tell us matter most — including early identification and support, inclusive mainstream education, EHCPs, transitions, communication with families, and genuine co-production. It also sets out practical recommendations for creating a SEND system that is more consistent, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of children, young people, and their families. While there are examples of good practice, families continue to face significant challenges in securing timely and appropriate support. We believe meaningful reform must focus on improving outcomes, reducing inequalities, and ensuring children and young people with SEND can access education and opportunities on an equal footing with their peers. You can read our full consultation response here:
