Southend-on-Sea Unveils Three New Autism Resource Bases

Representing Southend at the National Parent Carer Forums' Conference Some of our team recently travelled to Sheffield to attend the joint National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) and Contact – For Families with Disabled Children National Conference for Parent Carer Forums. It was a really valuable day bringing together parent carer forums from across the country to learn from one another, share experiences, and discuss the future of SEND support. The conference provided a space for open and honest conversations about the current SEND landscape and the changes families are experiencing. There was a strong focus on SEND reform and alternative provision, alongside discussions about strengthening parent carer forums, building regional capacity, and ensuring long-term sustainability. Throughout the day, the importance of lived experience remained central — highlighting the need for clear communication, accountability and meaningful co-production with families. There was also a focus on improving access and inclusion through a mix of online and in-person approaches, recognising that different families need different ways to engage and be supported. We were pleased that senior representatives from the Department for Education joined the conference, including Claire Burton, Director for SEND and Alternative Provision, who spent the day listening to parent carers and taking part in workshops. The discussions highlighted both the challenges families continue to face and the commitment being made nationally to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. One of the most valuable parts of the day was the opportunity to meet directly with Minister Gould, Minister for School Standards. We were able to share real experiences and feedback from families in Southend, helping ensure that local voices are heard in national conversations about SEND policy and practice. It was encouraging to see the Minister engage with parent carers and reflect on the issues being raised. Alongside the formal sessions, it was great to connect with other parent carer forums from across the country, exchange ideas, and build supportive relationships. These connections are so important in strengthening our work locally and learning from what’s working well in other areas.  Overall, it was a full and productive day of learning, discussion and collaboration. We’ll be bringing what we’ve learned back into our work in Southend to continue improving how we listen to families, represent parent carers, and work alongside local services to create positive change for children and young people with SEND.

New Autism and ADHD Assessment Providers – Important Update for Parent Carers Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) has announced an important update that may help reduce the long waiting times for Autism and ADHD assessments for children and young people. What’s changing? The NHS in Mid and South Essex has commissioned three new specialist providers to carry out Autism and ADHD assessments under the NHS Right to Choose scheme. This means more choice for families and aims to help children and young people be assessed sooner . New NHS Right to Choose providers GPs in Mid and South Essex can now refer children and young people directly to the following approved NHS providers : Body and Mind Mind Professionals The Owl Centre These providers have been quality assured by the ICB and meet NHS standards for safe, effective care. They will work alongside existing local providers (EPUT, NELFT and Provide CIC) to help reduce waiting times. What services do these providers offe r? The new providers can offer: Autism and ADHD assessments ADHD medication services (starting and adjusting medication), where appropriate Shared care arrangements with your GP, meaning prescriptions and reviews can often be managed locally How referrals work (important) Referrals must be made by your GP Schools cannot refer to these new providers Schools can continue to refer via My Care Bridge to the Community Collaborative as they do now If you feel one of these providers may be suitable for your child, you can discuss this with your GP and request a referral under Right to Choose. What about children already waiting? The ICB is also working with existing services to support children and young people who have: Been waiting over one year for an Autism or ADHD assessment Are approaching transition to adult services Some of these young people may be moved to the new providers to help speed things up. More providers coming soon The ICB has confirmed that four additional providers have also been commissioned and are expected to start accepting referrals later this spring . This information will be updated when details are available. Understanding your Right to Choose Under NHS rules, patients have the right to choose their ADHD (and Autism) assessment provider. However, the ICB encourages families to choose from locally commissioned and approved providers , as these: Meet NHS quality and safety standards Are linked with local services Support joined-up care after diagnosis Some Right to Choose providers only offer assessment and diagnosis , meaning further referrals may be needed for treatment. Read More on the ICB Webpage .

(photo credit - David Burton-Sampson MP (Team) - Facebook ) Engaging in National SEND Reform Discussions As you are aware, the Schools White Paper is due to set out the Government’s planned reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. We are very proud to be involved in these important discussions and are committed to engaging with every opportunity available to ensure parent carer voices are represented. We have attended several ministerial meetings hosted by the Minister for Education, Georgina Gould OBE, MP , which form part of the Department for Education’s wider SEND reform programme. These meetings brought together a range of stakeholders to explore SEND reform through the five key principles set out by the DfE: early, local, fair, effective and shared . Alongside these, we have also taken part in Parent Carer Forum (PCF)–specific meetings , which provide a dedicated space for PCFs to contribute directly to the reform process. We continue to attend both public ministerial and PCF-focused sessions, ensuring that we are fully engaged in all discussions made available to us. Within the recent PCF-specific meetings, solution-focused discussions explored two key areas: • what accountability is needed in a reformed system to support an effective and inclusive mainstream education system; and • what the key foundations are for building trust with parent carers across the SEND system. In addition to live discussions, PCF members shared extensive feedback through chat functions and written comments. This combination of lived experience, shared themes and practical suggestions was fed back collectively to the Minister to support ongoing SEND reform work. The Minister acknowledged both the complexity of the challenges and the value of the constructive contributions shared through Parent Carer Forums, recognising the importance of collective parent carer insight. At a local level, we were also particularly pleased to meet with our MP, David Burton-Sampson , and are grateful for his time and engagement. This meeting enabled us to contribute directly to Southend’s response to the Schools White Paper , ensuring that local parent carer perspectives were included. We remain committed to listening to parent carers, gathering shared experiences, and representing those voices wherever opportunities arise — locally, regionally and nationally — as SEND reform continues to develop. (NB - photo credit David Burton-Sampson