World Autism Acceptance Month aims to promote understanding and acceptance of autistic individuals.

It emphasizes that everyone can contribute to building an inclusive society by supporting autistic people in their daily lives, whether at home, school, or work.

Learn how you can get involved by visiting the National Autistic Society website.

Congratulations to Southend Youth Council who have been shortlisted for the MJ Achievement Awards 2025 for Community Engagement.

This recognition celebrates the outstanding work of the Southend Youth Council. Their innovative Neurodivergent Support Pack, developed by and for neurodivergent young people, offers invaluable guidance to anyone supporting neurodivergent individuals.

Read more and download the Neurodivergent Support Pack for free.

We will shortly be opening the 2025/26 grant application process for:

• Main Access Grants (for organisations and groups): applications open Monday 14 April 2025 and close at midnight on Sunday 18 May 2025.
• Community Access Grants (for families): applications open on Monday 28 April 2025 and close at midnight on Sunday 1 June 2025

Please view the 2025/26 Short Breaks Statement on the Local Offer for more information on how to apply for the Main Access Grant. For families we will be providing further details closer to the application open date.

Read the 2025/2026 Children's Short Breaks Statement.

We are excited to announce that tickets to our next seminar: Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plan Annual Reviews are now live. The seminar is aimed at ParentCarers who have an EHCP in place for their child or young person but would like to find out more about the Annual Review process. Book your free ticket now.

Please note that our regular coffee morning will not take place this month due to the Easter half-term break. We'll be back on Monday, May 13, and we can't wait to see you all then! We've missed you!

As, always we appreciate feedback on your lived experiences of SEND services in Southend – the positives, the negatives and everything in-between! Complete our family feedback form.

Navigating SEND can be challenging, so we've created six visual routemaps to guide families, with more in development.

Explore them on our Your Say Southend page and share your valuable feedback through a short survey at the end of the webpage – we want to know what's helpful and what can be improved!

View the routemaps on Your Say Southend.

Are you a local group or organisation that supports children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities, or their families?

If you’re not already a member of the Southend SEND Network, we’d love to connect with you and the families you support.

Find out more and join the Southend SEND Network.

Join us between 9 and 11am on Friday 25 April at Hamstel Family Centre.

Officers who will be at the surgery include representatives from the school age EHCP team, Occupational Therapy, Inclusion Team, School Specialist Teachers and the SEND Local Offer team.

Anyone can come to the surgery.

Can’t make it to a surgery? Contact the SEND Local Offer team for information and signposting. Call 01702 212328 or email localoffer@southend.gov.uk

More information about SEND Surgeries.

The Connexions Team are inviting students to complete a short, anonymous survey to share their views on social media and careers advice, information, and guidance.

Responses will help improve the way careers advice is delivered to young people.

The team appreciate your participation and look forward to hearing your feedback.

Take the survey.

Southend SEND Multi-Schools Council and Southend City Council's SEND Youth Participation team are hosting a networking day of 'Courageous Conversations' to explore how to improve outcomes for young people with SEND in Southend.

This event aims to create a safe space for open dialogue about the challenges and successes in supporting children with SEND.

Representatives from schools, education, local authority, parent forums, alternative provisions, youth organisations, charities and young people's groups are invited to attend.

• date/time: 9 May 2025 from 10.00am to 1.30pm
• venue: Southend Forum, Elmer Square, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1NS
• the event is free to attend. Refreshments and lunch included

Book a place, maximum 2 tickets per organisation.

Contact Jade Weller JadeWeller@southend.gov.uk or Fay Velleman southendmschoolscouncil@gmail.com

Join Southend SEND Youth Voice!

Share your experiences, ideas, and feedback to shape a better future for young people with SEND in Southend-on-Sea.

Next meeting: 6 May 4:30 to 6:00pm at Friends and Places Together, Top Floor, Unit 13, Victoria Shopping Centre. This session includes free climbing at Indirock and free pizza!

Read about Southend SEND Youth Voice.

The SEND Local Offer has a range of information about support for SEND for children and young people aged 0 to 25 in the local area.

Join us to find out more about the Local Offer and tell us what information you want and need.

Our next sessions are in May. Find out more.

Worried about your child's movement? Come along to a Physiotherapy drop-in clinic. The team offer advice and support for parents of children aged 0-5, helping them learn and develop their motor skills.

We offer quick screening and immediate advice. No referral or appointment needed.

Read more.

The Lighthouse Parent, Carer and Young Person Network is open to parent carers and young people living in Southend and Essex who use services provided by the Lighthouse Child Development Centre.

Meetings give you the opportunity to:

• meet and speak to the Lighthouse team
• ask questions
• hear about service developments
• connect with other parent carers and young people
• stay for as long as you like, come with a question or simply listen.

The network meets on the first Tuesday of each month, alternating between 12.30pm to 2pm and 7pm to 8.30pm. Find out more.

The Early Years SEND Support Service host stay and play sessions, to support you and your child with a variety of play and sensory experiences.

The sessions are for children with SEND aged 0 to 5 and their families in Southend and run on Wednesdays 1pm to 2:30pm. A range of services provide support and information. 

Next sessions:

• 23 April 2025 - Educational Psychology Team
• 7 May 2025 - Early Years SEND Advisor

Find out more.

Elective Home Education (EHE) SEND Hubs offer support to families who are home educating their children with Special Educational Needs. You can get support on accessing educational resources, specialist advice and guidance, social opportunities, and support groups.

Hubs will run from Priory Park Visitor Centre from 10am to 2pm on 6 May, 3 June, and 8 July.  

Email the EHE Team for more information electivehomeeducation@southend.gov.uk or visit the EHE Hub on Your Say Southend.

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Service want to improve NHS Mental Health Support across the local area.

Read more and share your views on the MSE Virtual Views platform.

Two surveys have been developed to find out about families experience of the Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan annual review process. Responses will help us understand:

• the impact of the support your child is receiving from their EHCP
• the difference the EHCP is making to your child's progress and life
• if there are any gaps in services, or community and leisure activities.

The surveys should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

• survey for parent carers
• survey for young people

Looking for things to do this Easter?

Follow Southend's SEND Local Offer on Facebook and Instagram for exciting events and activities happening across the city this spring break.

From family-friendly gatherings to creative workshops. Stay connected for dates, times, and locations – let's make this Easter egg-stra special together!