Southend SEND Area Partnership letter about proposed Government SEND Reforms

February 27, 2026

The Southend SEND Area Partnership have issued a letter about the proposed Government SEND reforms and the consultation.


You can read the letter in full here:


25 February 2026


Dear parent carers,


The Government's Schools White Paper, Every child achieving and thriving was published this week (Monday 23 February 2026). This White Paper sets out proposed reforms to the schools and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system in England. We expect more detail to become available over the coming weeks and will share further information with you as soon as we can.


We understand that these announcements may create uncertainty for families of children and young people with SEND. We want to reassure you that nothing about the support you currently receive will change at this stage. These proposals are part of a national consultation, and no decisions have yet been finalised.


Leaders from Southend-on-Sea City Council and the Integrated Care Board will now take time to carefully review the proposals so we can understand what they may mean for our local area. We are encouraged that the reforms aim to improve help and support for children and young people with SEND, with a commitment to ensuring the right resources are in place to deliver this.


The improvement work the SEND Area Partnership has undertaken over the last three years places us in a good position to align with the principles set out in the reforms – early and fair support, delivered through collaborative working and shared accountability.


The Government's consultation on the proposed reforms is now open and seeks feedback from everyone with an interest in SEND, including parents, carers, young people, and professionals. You can read the proposals and share your views here:
SEND reform: putting children and young people first - Department for Education - Citizen Space


The Partnership fully agrees that the voice of families must remain central as we consider these proposals and prepare our response to the consultation.


As Southend's Parent Carer Forum, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) encourages parents and carers to engage with the consultation to share your lived experiences as these are vital in shaping a system that truly reflects the needs of our children and young people. Throughout the consultation, SSIF are hosting informal in-person drop‑in sessions at Southend Civic Centre where you can share your views and ask questions.


Drop-in session dates:


  • Friday 13 March, 9.30am to 10.30am Committee Room 2
  • Tuesday 17 March, 9.30am to 10.30am Committee Room 2
  • Monday 23 March, 12.30pm to 1.30pm Committee Room 3
  • Thursday 23 April, 10.30am to 11.30am Committee Room 7
  • Friday 1 May, 12.30pm to 1.30pm, Committee Room 7
  • Monday 11 May, 10am to 11am, Committee Room 4


The Partnership will also host an in-person information session on Friday 17 April 2026 at Southend Civic Centre (Jubilee Room) from 9.30am to 10.30am. Find out more and book your place through Eventbrite: SEND Reform Family Engagement session


A further online session will be confirmed shortly. We encourage you to follow SSIF and the SEND Local Offer social media channels for updates:



It is important to note that the new system is not expected to be enacted until 2029. In the meantime, the Southend Area Partnership focus will remain on continuing the improvements achieved so far and ensuring children and young people in Southend receive the support they need.


Signatories:


Michael Marks, Executive Director, Children and Public Health, Southend-on-Sea City Council


Dr Giles Thorpe, Executive Chief Nursing Officer, Mid and South Essex ICB


Philomena Johnson, Strategic Lead for Education and Social Care, Southend SEND Independent Forum


Samantha Delve, Strategic Lead for Health, Southend SEND Independent Forum

SSIF SEND Reform drop-in Sessions

February 27, 2026
We will be hosting a series of informal drop-in sessions for parent carers to share views and ask questions about the Government SEND reform proposals and consultation. The Government's Schools White Paper, Every child achieving and thriving was published on Monday 23 February 2026. The Paper sets out proposed reforms to the schools and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system in England. The Government's consultation on the proposed reforms is open until 18 May. You can read the proposals and share your views here: SEND reform: putting children and young people first - Department for Education - Citizen Space As Southend's Parent Carer Forum, we encourage parent carers to engage with the consultation. To support this, we are hosting informal drop‑in sessions where you can share your views and ask questions. All sessions will be held in Southend Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend, SS2 6ER on the following dates: Friday 13 March, 9.30am to 10.30am Committee Room 2 Tuesday 17 March, 9.30am to 10.30am Committee Room 2 Monday 23 March, 12.30pm to 1.30pm Committee Room 3 Thursday 23 April, 10.30am to 11.30am Committee Room 7 Friday 1 May, 12.30pm to 1.30pm, Committee Room 7 Monday 11 May, 10am to 11am, Committee Room 4  The Southend SEND Area Partnership are also hosting an information session about the proposed SEND reforms on Friday 17 April 9.30am to 10.30am at Southend Civic Centre (Jubilee Room). You can book a place on that event here .

Southend-on-Sea Unveils Three New Autism Resource Bases

February 10, 2026
We were pleased to recently attend the official opening of three new Autism Resource Bases (ARBs) at Blenheim Primary School, Thorpedene Primary School and Shoeburyness High School. These new provisions mark an important step forward in strengthening SEND support across Southend. The ARBs have been purpose-built to provide specialist support for children with autism within a mainstream school environment. They offer calm, supportive spaces where children can access tailored help, while also having opportunities to learn and socialise alongside their peers in mainstream settings. This approach helps combine specialist provision with inclusion, supporting both learning and wellbeing. It’s encouraging to see continued investment in local SEND services, particularly provision that allows more children and young people to receive the support they need closer to home. For many families, being able to access specialist education locally can make a real difference to daily life, routines and outcomes.  As a Parent Carer Forum, we welcome these positive developments and recognise the importance of expanding specialist support within mainstream schools. We look forward to continuing to work alongside families, schools and the local authority to ensure children and young people with SEND are supported to thrive.

Joint NNPCF and Contact - For families with disabled children National Conference for Parent Carer Forums (PCFs)

February 10, 2026
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 Service Providers - Important Update

February 2, 2026
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 .