Southend SEND Independent Forum - 2023 Overview

Irvana Davies • January 19, 2024

SSIF had a productive 2023 and wanted to share with you a roundup of events and achievements undertaken by the PCF (Parent Carer Forum) over the course of the year:


Last January saw the team working on plans & developments for the year to come.


February we attended the NNPCF & Contact Conference in Bristol – it was great to see what being part of a PCF means on a national level and to meet colleagues & like minded ParentCarers from the 150+ other PCFs across the country.

We also received notice that Southend would have a full area SEND inspection under the Department of Education New Framework being 4th in the country & 1st in the region.


Ofsted and CQC carried out an inspection of Southend SEND services from 6th – 10th March 2023. Your voices were shared directly with Inspectors through the survey that was completed prior to the inspection. We are really pleased that so many SEND families responded to ensure their views and experiences were heard and considered.

The result was an Inconsistent outcome and the report was published.  Read the Ofsted and CQC Report.

The Inspectors found that the experiences of children and young people with SEND in Southend-on-Sea can be very varied and the report reflects the experiences and feedback we have received from our families. We acknowledge that the Local Authority and Health services have implemented changes and improvements to the SEND systems, however too often our children’s and young people’s needs are not met in a timely manner.

In March we held a free Wellbeing event for SEND ParentCarers in collaboration with N.O.W’s the time for change and Hands above Massage at the Cliffs Pavilion. There were lots of different taster sessions available such as growth mindset activities, emotional freedom tapping & reiki. The event was a great success and due to popular demand we are repeating this event, with even more therapies in March this year – please see dates for your diary section at the end of this article.


We continued our Coffee Mornings at SAVS in Alexandra Street which have grown from strength to strength. Many of you have benefited from speaking with the Specialist Services that join us such as SENDIASS, Advisory SENCOs, Representatives from The Lighthouse Child Development Centre among others. We continue to run these monthly with Chaos and Calm, who provide a free, fun-themed, SEND specific creche to enable any ParentCarers who have little ones to attend our sessions.


In June we were joined by Mrunal Sisodia OBE & Jo Harrison (Essex Family Forum) & Eastern Region Rep who spoke about Understanding The Role of the PCF, from a Local, Regional & National perspective.

 

A large portion of our year was spent working on the SEND Strategy & The Strategic Action Plan, which were finally published in the Autumn Term.


On Friday 6 October, in conjunction with the Southend SEND Area Partnership we organised a SEND Area Partnership Network Event to explain and discuss more about -


Ø role of the SEND Area Partnership;

Ø outcome of the Ofsted and CQC inspection;

Ø the Southend SEND Network;

Ø the SEND Strategic Action Plan;

Ø the SEND Strategy.


And were thrilled to launch our Family Feedback Survey so you can tell us what life is like as a SEND family in Southend – what works, what doesn’t and everything in between!

We need to hear your stories so we can ensure we are representing the actual lived experience of SEND ParentCarers across our City. 

SSIF works with (not for) the council, health and social care and we use the views and experiences you share with us to influence and inform the provision and services used by our children & young people and how things can be improved for them.

 

In November we took part in the NNPCF & Contact AGM, webinars & on-line conference.


For the Festive session at our SAVS Coffee Morning it was lovely to welcome back some of you who had joined us at various events throughout the year to share some festive treats and receive an early Christmas Gifts for both ParentCarers & our Creche attendees.

 

As you can see it was a busy year and 2024 promises more of the same plus some exciting new developments….


SSIF EVENTS - DATES FOR YOUR DIARY THIS TERM:


Tuesday 5th March

SSIF Parent Carer Wellbeing Day at The Cliffs Pavilion – as always advance information & priority booking will be given to our membership for this free event – so sign up today to become a member via the Join Us link in the top left hand corner above.


Thursday 7th March

SSIF Seminar on Early Identification & SEND Support in Schools


SSIF – ParentCarer Feedback Survey


SSIF continue to represent SEND families voices in Southend, to ensure that the necessary changes are implemented to best meet the needs of our children and young people.


One of the ways we do that is by gathering information from you, thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to give their feedback so far, your lived experiences help shape our work and we could not do this without you – you can give us feedback on anything that you want - the good, the bad and everything in-between.

Complete our survey.

Healthy Parent Carer Programme

May 5, 2026
Healthy Parent Carer Programme – Booking Now Open! We’re so pleased to share that SSIF has been accredited to deliver a brand-new 6-week programme dedicated entirely to your health and wellbeing. As parent carers, you spend so much time looking after everyone else. This programme is a chance to focus on you — to breathe, recharge, and connect with others who truly understand your journey. Starts Monday 8th June 2026 Only 14 spaces are available to keep the group supportive and personal. Over the 6 weeks, we’ll explore ways to: Make time for yourself Connect with other parent carers Learn simple self-care and stress-management strategies Prioritise your own wellbeing Find a little more calm and balance Our sessions are run for Parent Carers, by Parent Carers — a safe, understanding space where your wellbeing really matters. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided, and there’s an onsite café at the Civic Centre. Parking can be limited, so please allow extra time if you're driving. To help you truly switch off and focus on yourself, babies and children can’t be accommodated during the course. Find out more: www.healthyparentcarers.org Book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../healthy-parent-carers-6... - Or Scan the QR Code on the poster.

Southend-on-Sea takes home a National SEND Award 2026!

May 5, 2026
Southend-on-Sea takes home a National SEND Award 2026! We are incredibly proud to share that the Southend SEND Local Offer Team and Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) have jointly won the Council for Disabled Children 2026 award for Accessible and Inclusive Communications Strategy for SEND. This national recognition celebrates the power of partnership and a shared commitment to improving how families access information and support. At the heart of this achievement are Southend families. Everything we do is shaped by listening, learning, and working alongside parent carers to make sure information is not only available, but genuinely accessible and meaningful. From co-produced resources and varied communication formats, to opportunities for face-to-face conversations, our focus has always been on making it easier for families to find the right support at the right time. This award reflects the dedication, passion and collaboration of everyone involved — from families and practitioners to local partners who continue to champion inclusive communication across our community. It’s a reminder of what can be achieved when we work together with a shared purpose. We would also like to extend a huge congratulations to all of the award finalists. The stories, projects and innovations shared were truly inspiring and highlight the incredible work happening across the country to support children and young people with SEND and their families.  We’re excited to build on this momentum and continue strengthening the way we work alongside families, improving how information is shared and ensuring support is easier to access for everyone who needs it.

SEND Reform Engagement Event - 17th April 2026

April 17, 2026
The SEND Partnership hosted an information Event today and presented an overview of the key proposed changes, highlighting the areas the government is consulting on, and empowering parent carers with the information needed to share their views with confidence. We're pleased to share the presentation slides for parent carers who would like to revisit the information or find out more about the proposed changes. SEND Reform Information Day Slides. We hope that those who attended found the session informative and helpful in explaining the SEND reform proposals. Your views are incredibly important. We are continuing to gather feedback from parent carers through our survey, which will help shape our formal response to the SEND White Paper. We would really value hearing from as many parent carers as possible. Complete the survey. We would also encourage you to share your views directly with the government too by responding to the official consultation, so your voice is heard at a national level as well. Government Consultation . Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

Topic Talks for SEND Information Day - We need your help!

March 30, 2026
SEND Information Day – 16th June We’re planning our upcoming topic talks for our SEND Information Day, on Tuesday 16th June and we want them to reflect what you really want to hear about. What would you like to know more about? What information or support would make the biggest difference to you right now? The talks will be organised under three main areas: • Education • Health • Social Care Is there something you’ve been struggling to understand? A topic you feel isn’t talked about enough? Or something you’d really like clearer information on? – Your feedback will help shape the event talks. Please note that we won’t be discussing the proposed SEND reforms on the day, as the consultation closes in mid-May and we’ll be waiting for the outcome by the time the information day takes place. Please complete our short survey with your ideas. Thank you for helping us make this day as useful and supportive as possible for parent carers