On 1 September, the new Best Start in Life website was launched. This replaces Childcare Choices and Start for Life.

It offers guidance for families on issues such as child development, childcare funding, feeding and supports the journey to school. The launch of the website marks the beginning of the governments Best Start in Life initiative which aims to bring together family and early years services.

We encourage all families and professionals to explore the new website, sign up for personalised updates, and share with others.

With a fresh look and expanded support for all ages — including tailored careers guidance in SEND schools and our new Careers Hub at the Forum Library every Friday.

The Educational Psychology Service is launching: S-Well, a brand-new wellbeing service designed to support the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people within Southend schools.

School staff from Southend were invited to attend the launch on Tuesday 16 September from 10am to 12pm at the Civic Centre.

Other news from the Educational Psychologist Service (EPS):

Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF), and the SEND Local Offer Team invite parent carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), and professionals to a SEND Information Day.

Date and time: 6 November 2025 from 9:00am to 3:00pm (drop in anytime).

Venue: Southend Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, SS2 6ER.

Learning to travel independently can be a major step toward greater freedom and confidence for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Our Independent Travel Training programme is designed to help young people gain the skills they need to travel safely to and from school or college. Read more.

We hope that you all had a restful summer whatever that may look like for your family and that the new term start has been kind to you.

We know that going back to school can be difficult for some of our families, especially when there is the additional pressure from social media. We know the recent focus on attendance can feel a bit overwhelming. To help, we’ve put together a blog post that points you towards supportive websites and services, so you and your children and young people can feel reassured and encouraged knowing help is out there.

Every month, we run coffee mornings, where parent carers can get together to share their experiences.

We have the Local Offer team with us and invite 1 or 2 additional special guests from for example health, social care, education and more, to offer guidance and advice.

There is also a sensory play creche available for your little ones aged 0 to 5 with Chaos and Calm.

Come along and chat to other parent carers, get advice from one of our SEND support service guests and enjoy a hot drink with something sweet.

Booking is not required.

As always, we appreciate your feedback on your lived experiences of SEND in Southend-on-Sea – the positives, the negatives and everything in-between! 

Please complete our family feedback form.

The parent workshop and support programme organised by The Lighthouse Child Development Centre is open to any parent carer who is under their services and any parent carer whose child has a diagnosis received by them or another provider.

The programme run for 5 weeks, starting on 16 September from 10 am to 12pm at the Community Space, Methodist Church Rayleigh SS6 7JP.

You can contact the team for further information: epunft.lighthouse.adhd@nhs.net or epunft.lighthouse.asd@nhs.net

Members of the Southend-on-Sea City Council SEND Team and other services will be available to answer questions and provide advice to parent carers of children and young people with SEND at upcoming SEND Surgeries:

• Wednesday 24 September 2025. Hamstel Family Centre, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 4PQ.
• Friday 17 October 2025. The Eastwood Academy, Rayleigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 5UU.
• Monday 17 November 2025. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Manchester Drive, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 3HS.
• Thursday 11 December 2025. Greenways Primary School, Greenways, Southend-On-Sea SS1 3BS.

You do not need to book, just drop-in when available between 9 and 11am.

The NHS Children's Physiotherapy team are excited to offer physiotherapy drop-in clinics for children aged 0 to 5.

Worried about your child's movement? We offer advice and support for parents of children aged 0 to 5, helping them learn and develop their motor skills.

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

• Friday 17 October - 9am to 11.30am at Cambridge Road Family Centre, 40 to 42 Cambridge Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1ES.
• Monday 3 November - 9am to 11.30am at Hamstel Family Centre, Hamstel Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 4PQ.

You can also ring us on our advice line on 01702 372252 on weekdays between 12:30pm and 2:30pm

Bite-sized lunch and learn sessions are running every Monday in September for parents/carers of children in Southend schools.

Upcoming events:

• healthy and hassle free lunchboxes
• sugary snacks and oral health
• fussy eating webinar for parents of children aged 5 to 11

We would like you invite you to be part of the Southend Learning Disabilities User Voice Group.

The group meets every two months, and discuss a variety of subjects that matter to you including exploring exciting things to do in Southend-on-Sea, looking after your health and wellbeing, discussing where you live and how you are supported, understanding how to vote, and more.

It’s a chance to make new friends and meet other friendly faces from Southend, and to have your say to help make a difference on issues that matter to you!

The group is fun and interactive and held every 2 months in venues across central Southend.

Southend SEND Youth Voice is a group for those aged 11 to 25 who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Join us at a friendly, supportive meeting.

• share your experiences, thoughts and feedback
• take part in fun activities
• make important changes to improve the lives of children and young people with SEND in Southend-on-Sea.

Our next meeting will be held between 4.30pm to 6.00pm on 23 September 2025.

Food and refreshments will be provided.

We are open all day, every day! Designed as a relaxed welcoming space for children and their adults to hang out.

We believe children need somewhere where they can gently stretch their boundaries, with a wide selection of activities and the reassurance of their adults being close by. Thus gaining confidence, creating new and nurturing existing friendships whilst connecting to the wider community - in a way which feels safe and comfortable.

Essex Partnership University Foundation NHS Trust Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service have launched a new access to advice line.

The advice line is open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 11.30am and is available to parent carers and professionals.

Southend schools now have access to an updated range of therapy services to help them meet the needs of children and young people effectively and early.

Support is available at three levels – universal, targeted, and specialist – to help schools meet the needs of children and young people effectively and early.

The offer includes speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy, with resources, training, advice lines, and direct interventions.

Families are reminded that sixth forms and colleges are now holding open evenings. It’s important to find out what is available in the local area and consider options in advance.

Young people from years 9 to 11 are encouraged to attend and plan early.